Relics of the American West: 1850-1920
Lot 2226:
Description
This remarkable, large-scale collection features an extensive assortment of over 90 prehistoric to historic-era Native American bone awls and tools, alongside six grooved sandstone abrading stones traditionally utilized as shaft straighteners or tool smoothers. Housed in a vintage “Tom Moore” 5¢ cigar box, the bone tools range from 2.25 inches to 7 inches in length and are crafted from various split mammal bones, showcasing authentic historic grinding, polishing, and tapering for utilitarian tasks like hide-sewing and basketry. The stones feature distinct concave channels worn down by ancient friction. The bone artifacts exhibit an excellent, genuine aged patina with varied calcification and soil staining; minor ancient tip loss, weathering splits, and blunt ends are visible on select pieces. The vintage cardboard cigar box shows expected shelf wear, scuffing, and minor structural distortion. Overall dimensions of the grouping as displayed are approximately H 3″, W 14″, D 20″. Please see photos for condition.
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