This is a fabulous, early root burl ball head war club attributed to the Chippewa of the Great Lakes region and is truly a wonderful early example from the 19th-century. The club is comprised of a root burl of a tree, carved into a cylindrical ball with the haft and ball being one solid piece of wood and has a dark coloring and red mineral pigment or vermillion dyed / painted finish. The ball head club has a classic early pattern documented amongst the early-1800’s Great Lakes, Woodlands and Eastern Plains tribes showing the ball with eared section of the haft coming off the ball in a “D” like shape curving into the shaft. This shaft is squared off and more straight and is adorned along all four edges of the handle section with a chip carved triangular zig-zag pattern. The top and bottom edges of the handle are covered in rows of bras trade tacks along with two bands around the gripping area. The tacks, while in the pattern and age of an early example, appear to be a later addition. The club does not show an major breaks, cracks or splits. Appears to be an early, original example, but please examine for your own representation of age and originality. Overall measures 19.5-inches long with the ball being 3-inches across.