Ca.1940's MASTER ENGRAVED FIGURAL CATLINITE PIPETOMAHAWK INDIANS ATTACK COWBOY

Description

A SUPERIOR CATLINITE PIPE TOMAHAWK
1940's PIPE TOMAHAWK: ENGRAVED WITH SCENE OF TWO
INDIANS ATTACKING FLEEING COWBOY, ONLY PARTIALLY
INDICATED BY HIS BOOTS, PANTS AND LONG HAIR.
THE LEAD INDIAN PLUNGES
A DAGGER IN HIS BACK AND PULLS HIS HAIR PREPARING TO SCALP HIM.
THE FOLLOWING INDIAN HOLDS A PIONEER KNIFE AND A TOMAHAWK OVERHEAD.
AMAZING DETAILS TO THEIR APPAREL: THE LEAD INDIAN HAS A BELT TOMAHAWK,
AND WEARS A FRILLED UPPER GARMENT, PANTS, AS WELL AS A FEATHERED HEADDRESS,
AND HE HAS EARRINGS AND A NECKLACE. THE FOLLOWING INDIAN HAS THE SAME, AND
EVEN WARPAINT IS INDICATED ON THEIR FACES.
EXTRAORDINARY FINE CARVED DETAIL IS EXHIBITED ON EVERY SURFACE
OF THIS TOMAHAWK.
MEASUREMENTS: 7 1/2 INCHES LONG BY 4 1/2 INCHES WIDE.
ABOUT THE DATING: It could be 1920-1950.
My instinct is the somewhat caricatured Indians (looking a lot like Pawnees) were likely
emerging at a time when "Cowboy and Indian" movies and stories were popularizing the
earlier tragedy of our massacre of the indigenous tribes. Younger Indians both revered
their forbears as heroic warriors, but after Wounded Knee, resented them for losing. The
mixed emotions may be captured by an Indian artist born in the early 1900's.
CONDITION: EXCELLENT. NO REPAIRS.
Returns after communicating serious cause.
AUTHENTICITY GURANTEED