The lot features a wonderful authentic and rare Missouri War Axe Tomahawk attributed to the Hidatsa, and possibly Mandan, Native American Indian of the upper Missouri River Basin and dating to circa 1830-1840. This example shows a blacksmith hand-forged iron blade axe head with weeping heart cutout in the center of the piece. The term "Missouri War Axe" was coined by American Indian weapons collectors to describe this particular style of tomahawk. They were first discovered by Lewis & Clark on their 1804-1805 expedition financed by Thomas Jefferson, which sent them exploring up the upper Missouri River basin. Meriwether Lewis wrote about these weapons and sketched one in his journal, stating that the local Indians were fervently requesting the expedition blacksmith to make additional examples for them. He went as far as to state that it was the only item the Indians were willing to trade corn, grain and other expedition necessities for and that manufacture, and trade of additional axes is what solely got the explorers through the winter of 1805. Only a small handful of tribes were known to have used this style of tomahawk and in only one specific region. They were made in small numbers, making early surviving examples such as this extremely rare and historically important. The war club is attached to an old, weathered wooden haft, likely to be the original example, that shows no brass tacks, drops or other adornments. The haft does have traces of old black pigment mineral paint, a unique attribution. This war club was not made to be a showy piece for ceremonial use or treaty signings, but rather a weapon of war. Provenance: The piece was purchased / traded for by noted collector Mark Francis in the early 2000’s from the well-known and respected collector John Painter (Francis traded an early Crow beaded belt bag for the war axe). The piece has been photographed in the publication book. “The Mark Francis Collection of American Indian Art” 2009 by Mark Francis on page 45 figure 59, and in the 2010 book, “The Missouri War Axe: War Tomahawk of the Plains and Prairies” on page 45 figure 56. This is truly an excellent and early tomahawk that has been published in two books and from the collections of both Mark Francis and John Painters. The axe measures 20.25”L overall with an axe head that is 7.25”L by 3.25”W of thin forged iron. For a complete representation of condition and for additional images please call 800-686-4216. It is the buyer’s responsibility to view each image and preview the item to determine condition.