This is a fabulous and historic early circa 1850-1860’s stone head war club from the Northern Plains of Montana from the ex-historic collection of multi-generational Snook collection of Billings, Montana from their 2001 Snook Estate Auction. The piece exhibits a polished stone war club head with wood support presumably in a polished groove wrapped in Buffalo / Bison parfleche rawhide. The club has a wooden handle with unique carved ball pommel end which is completely wrapped further in Buffalo / Bison parfleche rawhide with sinew and rawhide lacing sewing. The head shows a dark coloring and the hide shows wonderful honest patina from its early age and use. Provenance: This piece was part of the Virginia Snook (1913-2019) and Earl & Eleanora Snook Billings, Montana collection and was owned by Earl and Eleanora Snook, who founded the Snook Art Company in Billings, Montana in 1913. The Snook family were active collectors and patrons of Montana’s art community and Montana history. They first met Will James (1892-1942), a prominent Montana Cowboy author, illustrator and artist in 1926, and that friendship and business relationship lasted for decades. The Snook’s acquired many important pieces from notable Montana artists and Western artist such as Joe De Yong, Joseph Henry Sharp, Isabella Johnson, Will James, and Charles M. Russell. Most of their art collection was gifted to the Yellowstone Art Museum as the Virginia Snook Collection which includes the largest collection of Will James works. This piece was purchased from the Jayson Shobe Auction in Billings, Montana circa 2001 as mentioned by the Billings Gazette Newspaper (a clipping is included) and has been in a single Billings, Montana collection since. Measures overall 28.5-inches long overall, the head is 4-inches by 4-inches by 2.5-inches.