Plains Indian Pipe Tomahawk, ca. 1875

Appraised on: July 23, 2011

Appraised in: Tulsa, Oklahoma

Appraised by: Bruce Shackelford

Category: Tribal Arts

Episode Info: Tulsa, Hour 3 (#1603)

Originally Aired: January 16, 2012

IMAGE: 1 of 1  

Appraisal Video: (1:24)

GUEST: It's called a pipe tomahawk. Bought it at an estate sale at Colgate, Oklahoma.

APPRAISER: Did you throw down a lot of money for it?

GUEST: No, paid $33 for it.

APPRAISER: I see. And what did they tell you about it?

GUEST: They didn't know anything either.

APPRAISER: Well... (laughs) What this is, it's a pipe tomahawk and it's kind of a dual symbol. The tomahawk's a sign of war, and the pipe is a sign of peace. And it works as a pipe. I think as a tomahawk, the handle is a little weak to use as a tomahawk, but the Plains Indians and tribes all throughout the southern U.S. carried these as signs of authority. The stem on it or the haft, is ash, and it's been decorated with brass tacks, and these are old tacks. If you look right here, you see that the shank on the tack is brass also. It's not steel, so it's an early tack. Beautiful piece. It dates around 1870, 1875, and they go for between $8,000 and $12,000 in an auction situation. So pretty good 33 bucks, I guess.

GUEST: Wasn't a bad investment.

APPRAISER: No. (laughs)