5

Osage Missouri War Axe Tomahawk c. 1830-1840

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:4,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
Osage Missouri War Axe Tomahawk c. 1830-1840
The lot features a superb and rare Missouri War Axe Tomahawk attributed to the Osage Native American Indian of Oklahoma and dating to circa 1830-1840. The term "Missouri War Axe" was coined by American Indian weapons collectors to describe this particular style of tomahawk. They were first discovered by Lewis & Clark on their 1804-1805 expedition financed by Thomas Jefferson, which sent them exploring up the upper Missouri River basin. Meriwether Lewis wrote about these weapons and sketched one in his journal, stating that the local Indians were fervently requesting the expedition blacksmith to make additional examples for them. He went as far as to state that it was the only item the Indians were willing to trade corn, grain and other expedition necessities for and that manufacture, and trade of additional axes is what solely got the explorers through the winter of 1805. Only a small handful of tribes were known to have used this style of tomahawk and in only one specific region. They were made in small numbers, making early surviving examples such as this extremely rare and historically important. This example features a forged sheet iron head which measures 8 inches long by 4 ¼ inches wide across the bottom of the blade. The surface of the sheet iron tomahawk head shows a circular punch dot decoration on both sides with a very early style of weeping heart cut out in the center. The blade of the war club shows a slight, hawkbill curve seen on early examples of Missouri War Axes as shown in History of the Indian Tribes of North America by McKenney & Hall (being held by various warriors). The head is secured to the haft wooden handle at the top eyelet hole with brass tacks and a few old tiny trade nails with the haft being decorated with a wrap of old blue stroud (shroud) cloth affixed with sap and brass tacks. The war club also shows nine rows of old brass trade tacks, a nice artful addition. At the gripping area of the piece shows a wrapping of old black trade clothe which extends into a nice drop and has a line of yellow and red, taken from an old fort blanket. Examples of Missouri War Axes wrapped in old trade clothe stroud of blue, red or stripes have been documented and published works by Peterson, Francis, Hartzler & Knowles and Baldwin. Provenance: From the ex-collection of Cyrus Eaton Estate. Overall the war club tomahawk measures 18 inches in total length with an additional 12 inch long clothe drop and head that is 8 inches long.