Strange spike tomahawk two????

[Ralph Meisse]

Hi,

Here is a little better picture of the hawk along with a Native American dance piece in the shape of an Owl's head, along with a nice little patch knife. These all came out of the same house.

Big Ralph

 

[Chilidog]

Treasures for sure! Thanks for the pics. :thumbsup:

 

[GreyWhiskers]

Very interesting. :thumbsup: GW

 

[anvil1231]

Wow! Very nice treasures.

 

[dyemaker]

Why, everyone should own an owl accoutrement. The owl is a messenger of death and prophet in animal medicine.

 

[blacksmithman64]

I dunno Big Ralph...If that was my stuff and I wasn't sure about it, I'd be gittin' it to a museum and see if the experts can't figure it out. Mebbe from yer screen name yer sorta close to The Ohio Historical Society in Columbus?

 

[dyemaker]

That's a better idea. All I know is I'm gonna copy that owl accoutrement thing and have my own... whatever it is I like it.

 

[pichou]

Hmm... chip carving is not really typical of early or "pre-reservation era" Native carving.

The bark reminds me of cherry.

Not trying to lead the discussion any direction, just a comment... bark-on carving and cherry are common to... Blackfoot work.

Regarding Native cultural symbols, it's good to remember that there wasn't just one culture or symbolic system. :wink:

 

[dyemaker]

This is safe enough to discuss, the bark doe's look like cherry but the exposed wood looks alot like osage orange. I want an owl! It's just to dang cute.
:thumbsup:

 

[Ralph Meisse]

Sorry guys, the wood is not cherry or orange. It is white birch. The face itself is a burl root of the tree. The part you hold in your hand is the tree part above the ground. You can't see it very well but the very end of the handle still has the bark on it and it is white birch. Need little piece isn't it? If only these things could talk.

Big Ralph

 

[Shane Carter]

Really neat looking pieces, thanks for the pictures.

 

[pichou]

Had me fooled. Well it has some age to it then if that's all patina on the exposed wood. That probably rules out Koshare or Ben Hunt Indian too. :haha:

Is there varnish on the bark or is that polish from handling? If it is polish that makes it much more interesting ($$$$$) and not a tourist piece from like the 1920's.

 

[dyemaker]

This may be a dumb question but wouldn't white birch be um, white? I agree with "P" It doe's look like black cherry but I'll take your word for it.

 

[Marc Adamchek]

Well, remember that white birch canoes are reddish because the bark is inside out. Anyway, this stuff is so cool and so obviously historically valuable, as well as monetarily, I wouldn't sell it to NOBODY! Now could you pleeez, pleez, pleez show us the 3 guns that came from that house?

 

[Ralph Meisse]

Okay Marc,

I will show you two of the guns that I kept. The third one I gave away to my son. He'll get the other two also when my huntin days are over. I'll try to post pics of at least one gun today.

Big Ralph

 

[pichou]

Well Ward Oles says its 19th century Penobscot, and valuable. He ought to know.

:thumbsup:

 

[Ralph Meisse]

Hi,

Who is Ward Oles and why can't I see his post about it being Penobscot Indian?

I will try to post a pic of the gun in a little while. Should I do it here or in the Cap[ Lock section.

Big Ralph

 

[Ralph Meisse]

Okay here goes.
http://www.muzzleloadingforum.com/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/241234

 

[MichaelGoodwin]

The root club is sweet.It could very well be Penobscot but could be Malicite or Micmac.Stan Neptune and his boy Hugga are well known Penobscot carvers of today.Its a spirit club and probably made for the tourist trade or for a sport.

 

[Chiefs50]

Here's a very similar (to my eye) hawk. http://www.nativeworkshop.com/tomahawks.htm Scroll down to the third photo.


Mike