Relics of the American West: 1850-1920
Lot 2121:
Description
This exceptional five-piece collection of Native American artifacts features historic ceremonial and utility items from the late 19th to early 20th century, showcasing traditional Plains and Eastern Woodlands craftsmanship. The ensemble includes a spiked wooden war club measuring 19.5″ long, 7″ wide, and 1.5″ thick with a hand-forged iron point, a sacred turtle shell rattle measuring approximately 7″ long with a 3″ head diameter featuring a visible rip in the hide connection alongside an ochre-painted handle, a 12.5″ long carved wooden-handled knife with a 6.5″ long by 1 15/16″ wide steel blade with a modern inventory sticker marked “AKKK” on the back, and its accompanying hide sheath featuring intricate, colorful glass seed beadwork on the face and a blue-and-white checked trade cloth lining. The items exhibit authentic historic wear and patina consistent with age and use, including heavy oxidation, pitting, and structural stability on the iron blade, minor flaking and fading to the rattle’s painted surfaces, natural aging of the wood grains, and light fraying to the cloth backing of the sheath while the beadwork remains remarkably well-preserved. H 19.5″, W 7″, D 3″. Please see photos for condition.
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