This is a unique, exceptional, and artful Southern Plains Native American Indians, war tomahawk with long, frilly, Buffalo hide fringe drop, circa 1850. This example can be referred to as a “Missouri War Axe” tomahawk and features a hand-forged iron head, crafted from sheet iron and showing a weeping heart cutout at the center of the blade, along with a small, rear facing pointed spur. The axe head is secured to the haft with old brass tacks and a pewter end cap at the top. The hardwood haft handle is adorned with old brass trade tacks in bands or rows and shows various staining from honest age and use. One can imagine what the stains could be. It has been well documented that American Indian weapons carry stains from their victims, as these were truly used during the Indian Wars period during hand-to-hand combat. The entire piece has a nice, even, mellow patina on both the head and haft, showing some nicks, dings, and scratches from honest use. Just below the gripping area is a long, frilly, Buffalo Bison Indian tanned hide fringe drop that hangs 23 inches in length, overall, and is slightly stained and patina’d, as well. This example from the Southern Plains is attributed to being from the Southern Cheyenne or possibly Comanche, as similar examples are attributed to both tribes documented in Peterson, Baldwin and Francis’s books. Provenance: From the Ex-Collection of Cyrus Eaton out of London, England. The head measures 8 inches long by 4 ½ inches wide across the bottom of the blade. The tomahawk is 20 inches long from head to end with an additional 23-inch-long fringe drop.