Kiowa Pipe Tomahawk & Rattle, ca. 1880
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GUEST:
They've been in my family since about 1945. My dad bought a large collection from the Plains Indian area. The collection came with a number of Sharps rifles and some swords. And that's what he wanted. He appreciated these Indian things, but it wasn't his area of collecting or expertise. It was of secondary interest.
APPRAISER:
Yes. Well, you've taken great care of them. They're in terrific condition.
GUEST:
Thank you.
APPRAISER:
They're from the southern plains, and the tribe is the Kiowa, a rather fine tribe with beautiful, beautiful traditions.
GUEST:
Oh, yes.
APPRAISER:
They're both circa 1880. The bottom object is called a pipe-tomahawk. It combines both a weapon, the blade, as a war object, and a pipe bowl to solemnify a peace treaty. It's at a point in time when warfare actually had ceased to exist. But the object remained as a symbolic unit for a warrior. And so a man would carry this as a prestige object. You'll notice the colors. The red associates the object with the powers of the upper world, particularly thunder birds and avian creatures. The darker colors associate the object with the powers of the lower world. The yellow is an earthly color, and our job in the middle realm is to harmonize the powers of the upper world with the powers of the lower world. So it's quite remarkable. The head of the pipe-tomahawk is steel. It was made by a blacksmith, a non-native. It has a little bit of red on it as well. The handle is ash or hickory. It's a very hard wood with a long grain. And then it's ornamented with the beaded fringe. The object above has similar characteristics: the color contrast associated with the upper world and the lower world.
GUEST:
Oh.
APPRAISER:
The fringe is native tanned deer hide. It's very, very soft. This would accompany a drum. A drum would replicate the heartbeat of Mother Earth, if you will. And a rattle would accompany the singer. This rattle is meant to bring spiritual power and healing power to the tribe. The eagle is both a thunderbird, the highest power of the avian world, and also it replicates the American eagle. There is a halo around the eagle's head with rays of grace, so it's incorporating Christian imagery as well. On a retail basis, the pipe-tomahawk, I think, would readily realize $4,500.
GUEST:
Oh, wow.
APPRAISER:
It's very nicely done.
GUEST:
Oh, I knew it's nicely done, but wow.
APPRAISER:
The rattle...
GUEST:
Tell me more!
APPRAISER:
I'll tell you more. On a retail basis, I think this rattle would easily realize $5,500.
GUEST:
I just look at the beauty of them. I think they're astounding.
Appraisal Details
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