Lot 18

Rare & Early Sioux War Tomahawk by Henri Papin

Estimate: $4,750 - $6,250

Bid Increments

Price Bid Increment
$0 $5
$50 $10
$100 $25
$500 $50
$1,000 $100
$2,000 $250
$5,000 $500
$10,000 $1,000
$25,000 $2,500
$100,000 $5,000
The lot features a rare and early war tomahawk attributed to the Sioux Native American Indians of South Dakota and from the early-to-mid-19th Century. The piece has a PAPIN touch mark. Provenance: The war tomahawk is from the respected Cyrus Eaton collection of London, England and is said to date from circa 1820-1850’s, which is pre-Indian Wars era. The war club weapon is in the early “Missouri War Axe” style and features a hand-forged / blacksmith forged iron head with punch-dot decoration on both sides of the wide, flaring blade, along with filed lines over the eye hole. There is a pewter bullet led poured end cap with brass tacks at the top holding the wood haft, which is completely covered in one long wrap of Indian tanned buckskin, ending in long, frilly hide fringe that functions as the drop. The haft also features brass trade tacks, which are inlaid along the buckskin, holding it into place and running down the length of the haft in a spiral fashion. The right side of the blade shows a touch mark/maker’s mark/hallmark, which reads “PAPIN” in all capital letters and is stamped into the metal. This likely is reference to Henri Papin, a fur trader and blacksmith who married into the Choteau family and took over the business at Fort St. Louis when the Choteaus headed northwest up the Missouri River. The piece exhibits nice patina from honest Indian use and early age. This is from the Cyrus Eaton collection in London, England. The head measures 8.75 inches long by 5 inches wide across the bottom of the blade. The tomahawk is 20 inches long overall, with an additional 19 inch long fringe at the back.
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