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Blackfeet Tomahawk and Beaded Drop

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Western Americana Start Price:5,000.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 20,000.00 USD
Blackfeet Tomahawk and Beaded Drop
Preview: Phoenix Marriott Mesa - 200 N Centennial Way, Mesa, AZ 85201
Preview Period:
Thursday January 27 -- 3:00 pm-7:00 pm
Friday January 28 -- 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday January 29 – 9:00 am -4:30 pm
Haft 19” long with brass tacks and brass wire wrapping. Iron file markings on wood and 11” X 4” heart cut-out on iron head. Attached is a red, colbalt and pink beaded geometric drop with tin-cone fringe suspensions. Fine condition, c 1870 Sioux Tomahawk by Benson L Lanford TAMAHAK, (tamahakan, pl.), one of the several words, especially in American English, that was borrowed from the Algonkian language family during colonial times. Who hasn’t heard of and used tomahawk? Everyone is well familiar with that prototypical American Indian tool / utensil / weapon. Actually, it’s plausible that an American Indian conceived of the first tomahawk. Numbers of early blacksmiths were indeed American Indians who worked independently or along side of those of European ancestry. Acting on inborn abilities of acute percep?tion and creativity, an Indian smith, somewhere, could have hit upon the idea of combining two very useful items into one: the smoking pipe and the hatchet. Indian use of the pipe is legend. They smoked pipes for countless reasons—pleasure, spiritual purposes, and consecrating legal matters. The uses to which they put hatchets and axes literally speak for themselves. In this regard the cutting edge of a tomahawk blade could obviously serve as a tool as well as an effective weapon. (However, some old-timers have commented that even the pipe bowl of a tomahawk also served as a weapon—to puncture the adversary’s skull!). One implement carried on the trail—the tomahawk: used for smoking, splitting firewood, skinning a deer, sharpening a tent stake, defending oneself in combat…. Brilliant! Tomahawks became indispensable for Indians, and even found considerable favor among non-Indian frontiersmen. Blacksmiths who specialized in their manufacture were kept very busy indeed. In fact, blacksmiths received frequent commissions to produce at least finely finished—even elaborate, hand-forged blades for tomahawks with hafts with ornamental inlays, carvings and other decorate features. These presentation tomahawks were for presentation to Indian dignitaries and notables. (READ MORE p 130)