This is an excellent, uniquely patterned spontoon pipe tomahawk attributed to the Nez Perce Native American Plateau region Indians of Idaho and dating to the late-19th-Century. This large, artful example features a hand-blacksmith forged iron “spontoon” pattern axe head with iconic kite-shaped blade, upward curled basal processes, and unique rectangular cutout along with brass inlaid heart. The kite-shape blade has a raised median ridge running down the length of the center of both sides of the blade, an early documented weapons feature. The piece is paired with a hardwood ash haft handle, which is adorned with old brass trade tacks and further accented by a hide wrapped gripping area flowing into the beaded traditional shaped geometric beaded hide and trade cloth drop. The beadwork features typical Plateau / Intermountain geometric patterns similar to a snake pattern, showing all 1800’s glass trade seed beads in colors of greasy yellow, chalk white, greasy sky padre blue, semi-transparent green, semi-transparent rose, and cobalt / royal blue. The drop and grip wrap is comprised of Great American Bison Buffalo Indian tanned hide and trade cloth further accented by brass disc beads and long hide fringe at the base--both are possibly a later addition to the head itself. The head has a nice dark patina and the brass is mellowed. The head itself has a tear drop eyelet hole with a tall highly figured pipe bowl that has rich molded, filed, rolling ridges flowing into the blocky chevrons and filed moldings. Provenance: From the ex-collection of Dale Harrison of Cincinnati, Ohio. The piece is very similar to the spontoon pipe tomahawk with Buffalo Bison brass inlay from the Cherokee of North Carolina, dating to circa 1890, and sold by our company in 2020. The axe head measures 12 1/2 inches in length and the tomahawk itself measures 26 ½ inches long with an additional 25 inch long drop.