This is an exceptional, uncommon, large pipe tomahawk that is beautifully adorned with cross and star cutouts with brass inlays, along with beaded drop, attributed to the Sioux Native American Indian of the Western Plains during the 1800’s. The piece shows a large triangular axe head, commonly referred to as a Western or Plains type head. The oversized head has a crescent blade and rear facing small spur with forged stepped moldings, tear drop eyelet hole, and diamond chevron moldings flowing into the immensely unique vase-like pipe bowl. The pipe bowl is tall and slender with curved tapering neck, four raised squared off ridges and an inward tapering tall surface that was expertly crafted. The blade itself shows a large cross cutout at the center, bordered with three star cutouts, all of which are inlaid with brass. The three star cutout / inlays are each six pointed in the Star of David pattern, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David; this is not a common inlay and was likely influenced by a Jewish Trader amongst the Sioux. At the center of the blade shows the symmetrical four arm cross, which shows circular ball ends, referred to as the four-point morning French Cross. The head is attached to a hardwood, likely ash or oak, haft handle, which is adorned with brass and metal trade tacks. The haft has a tear drop smooth carved finish with indented finger wells and the gripping area, pierced hole which holds the drop of beadwork and nice carved smoking tip. The end shows a file burned finish with the wood clean out plug still intact. The drop is tied to the haft with Indian tanned hide strands and the drop shows a typical triangular long shape, also constructed of Indian tanned hide with red stroud trade cloth ending and elaborately adorned with glass trade seed and pony beads. The beads are in a geometric Cheyenne and Oglala Sioux pattern with cross symbols and colors of Cheyenne pink, cobalt, blue, chalk white, medium blue, semi-transparent red. The base of the drop shows long frilly rawhide/ hide fringe, which has a brain tanned finish and is slightly hardened and patina’d. Provenance: From an amazing American Indian collection in Billings, Montana, one of the best in the Nation, where it was found to be an authentic original piece. The piece was said to have been purchased from Old Barn Auctions Jan Sorgenfrei. A similar example can be seen in John Baldwin’s 2001 “Indian War Clubs of the American Frontier” on page 8, figure 306, showing a cross cutout and western blade, in more crude form, described as being Phase III (third quarter 19th Century). For additional examples of nearly identical cross with ball end cross cutouts, see Harold L. Peterson’s “American Indian Tomahawks”, 1965, book, pictured at figure 194 and on page 119, figure 194; it is described as a circa 1860-1880 Plains Type of pipe tomahawk attributed to the Oglala Sioux, “pierced with a cross, each end of which terminates in a circle” MAI/HF 13/7843. The head appears to be of a significant 19th Century age, with the tacks and beadwork being a later adornment. The tomahawk is 27”L from smoking tip to end of blade. The head is 12 7/8”L with a 5 1/8”L blade. The drop is 20”L by 4.25”W.