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Tomahawk

Arts of the Americas

MEDIUM Wood, buckskin, beads, metal
  • Place Made: United States
  • DATES late 19th–early 20th century
    DIMENSIONS Tomahawk: 22 7/16 x 6 11/16 in. (57 x 17 cm) Dangler: 16 1/2 x 3 1/4 in. (41.9 x 8.3 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of the Americas
    ACCESSION NUMBER 26.802
    CREDIT LINE Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Tomahawk with long wooden handle and metal head. Handle has studs in two rows with 4 diagonal stripes around it. A wrapped, beaded blue, white, and red hide piece slips over handle with an attached beaded and fringed flap hanging down from it. The flap's design includes a beaded cross in the center and a triangular form above the fringed end. The object was part of Red Cloud's War Outfit purchased in 1926 as material having belonged to him. Red Cloud lived from 1822 until 1909. Condition: Good; the pieces should be stored together. There is writing on the blade that reads partially: 2 COH o\u LS Cast steel oits + co (or ons + co.) op.
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Oglala, Lakota, Sioux. Tomahawk, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, buckskin, beads, metal, Tomahawk: 22 7/16 x 6 11/16 in. (57 x 17 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund, 26.802. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: , 26.792_26.802_PS1.jpg)
    IMAGE group, 26.792_26.802_PS1.jpg.
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    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
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