Eastern Woodlands Pipe Tomahawk Head

19th century

hand-forged with tulip-shaped bowl and teardrop-shaped eye; blade stamped on one side with English hallmarks of seven stars, a crescent moon, sun, and bird with initials B.F.; opposite without markings
total length 9-1/4 inches; width of blade 3-1/4 inches

A tomahawk by the same maker can be found in the collections of the McCord Museum of Canadian History, Montreal, Quebec (collection number M12570). The markings on the blade is discussed in Hartzler and Knowles Indian Tomahawks and Frontiersmen Belt Axes (1995: 152, fig.70).

Small chip to end of blade. Edge of bowl has been "hammered".

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Ms. Farnand has helmed the Native American Art department since its inception at Cowan's Auctions in 2003, developing it into one of the most respected and successful departments in the category. Throughout her career, Ms. Farnand has sold over $50 million in Native Art, and has created focused and curated auctions for 19th and 20th century Native works, Jewelry, and Modern and Contemporary Native and Indigenous Arts. A distinguished expert in her field, Ms. Farnand is a respected voice in the ongoing dialogue between Native American tribal groups and the collecting community regarding culturally significant objects, serving as a board member of the Authentic Tribal Art Dealers Association (ATADA) since 2019, and spearheading the effort to return a sacred Ahayu:da wooden figure to its rightful home in the Zuni Pueblo in New Mexico in 2020. She has also been an appraiser on Antiques Roadshow since 2016. Ms. Farnand holds an M.A. in Anthropology from the University of Cincinnati and a B.A. in Art History from John Carroll University.

Erin Rust

Associate Vice President, Specialist, Native American Art

[email protected]513.666.4947

Erin Rust is a specialist in the Native American, Prehistoric & Tribal Art department at Hindman.
Ms. Rust began as a specialist in Native American Art and Artifacts at Cowan’s Auctions in 2017, with a focus on Native jewelry and Midwestern prehistoric artifacts. She has also worked on the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana and on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Ms. Rust holds a Bachelor of Arts in Graphic Design with a minor in History, concentrating in Native Studies, from Xavier University in Cincinnati, Ohio. Ms. Rust also appears on the top-rated PBS television program Antiques Roadshow.

Native American Art, Session I

Eastern Woodlands Pipe Tomahawk Head

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