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Sioux Spontoon Pipe Tomahawk 19th Century

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:2,500.00 USD Estimated At:6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
Sioux Spontoon Pipe Tomahawk 19th Century
The lot features a wonderful spontoon pipe tomahawk attributed to the Sioux Native American Indians of South Dakota and dating to circa 1880’s. The piece was said to have been collected in South Dakota at the Pine Ridge Sioux Reservation and is from the ex-collections of Ted and Lilly Jarvis and Tom Hardy of Santa Fe, New Mexico and Ohio. The example shows large blacksmith forged iron spontoon blade head that features a four-point morning star cut out in the center which is surrounded by four pierced circles. The head also shows two upward-curled basal processes and exceptional file decoration on both sides of the eyelet hole. The haft handle has old faded hot file branding and brass trade tacks adorning the piece. On the right side of the haft shows brass trade tacks in a Buffalo Bison track design, a documented symbol said to symbolize ownership by a Warrior, as stated by Doug Diehl of Skinner Auctions and other experts. There is a beaded hide sleeve or wrap attached at the gripping area secured with old hide glue and a small dangle drop tied on at the pierced hole near the smoking tip. The drop is comprised of an old beaded fetish with two rows of tarnished brass beads. The beadwork at the gripping area shows all old glass trade seed beads in a geometric pattern with chalk white, greasy yellow, blue and red. The piece has a nice mellow patina and has some minor but expected wear from age and use. The head measures 12 inches long by 3 ¼ inches wide.