Lot 133

C. 1830-1840 Arapaho Coup Stick - Ex-Museum Coll.

Estimate: $1,500 - $2,500

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,500 $250
$5,000 $500
$7,000 $1,000
This lot features an authentic, original circa 1830-1870 early Northern Plains Indian Arapaho “Coup Stick” from the ex-collection of the US Children’s Museum on the 19th Century. The piece exhibits a solid hardwood one-piece carved stick, closely resembling a coup or dummy arrow with blunt end tapering down. At the bottom end shows a sinew parfleche wrapped horsetail and Buffalo Bison tail end with dark red mineral pigment dye showing the parfleche hide end, being further wrapped in trade cloth and a trade thread. The piece exhibits a museum collection number on the shaft of J1042R / H. This comes with a printout from the US Children’s Museum on the 19th Century showing it as Artifact ID: IPL530 and noting it as “An early Northern Plains (Arapaho) “coup stick”, a devise used to touch an enemy in order to demonstrate courage. It measures 40” long with horsehair at the end; C/A 1850; Artifact Age: mid-19th Century (1830-1870); Tribal Group: Northern Plains; Tribe: Arapaho.” The wood shows a stripped carved finish with nice mellow patina from honest age and use. Overall, the piece is well kept and displays well. Truly a wonderfully uncommon and scarce early Indian Wars piece with Museum Provenance. Commonly referred to as Counting Coup. Provenance: From a large Ohio collection and the ex-collection of the US Children’s Museum On The 19th Century. Measures overall including tail hair 40”L.*