Friday, August 24, 2012

Pipe Tomahawk

This is a pipe tomahawk that has been restored by Jack Brooks. The head was found in a local antique show and Jack supplied the haft. This is apparently one of a group of axes that the British had made as gifts to Indian allies on the advent of the War of 1812. They are identified by the presence of the following stampings on the left side, from the top down: a bird with an initial on each side, a sun face, a quarter moon face, and a cluster of stars near the bottom, (blade). 

The most prominant example is in the Smithsonian and is inscribed on the right side: " Henry Proctor to Tecumseh." There are perhaps a known dozen, or so, of these. Jack has seen one that had the original haft, there is another one in the McCord Museum in Canada, the Tecumseh piece, and a number of heads, some of which were dug items. All seem to cluster around the Great Lakes/Midwest region. 

Anyway, if you decide to show the axe, this information might be of interest. I don't know of any supporting documents for this theory, but no one has done any research on the subject, that I am aware of. 





Photos supplied by Jack Brooks.

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