pipe tomahawk

pipe tomahawk

pipe tomahawk

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Introduction

A tomahawk pipe, with sun, moon and star motifs inscribed on the blade. Northeastern North America, probably Delaware. Collected by Milligan from Chief Waubuno and donated to the British Museum by the New England Co. in 1951.

Nation of Maker: Other
Nation of Origin

The British Museum accession record lists this item as made by the "Delaware" people.

Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Created from information in the British Museum object catalogue.

Materials

wood; steel; pewter

Techniques or Format

The wooden handle is one piece, with the axe blade affixed to the handle through a hole drilled in the centre of the top of wood near the axe blade. Motifs are inscribed onto the blade.

Motifs and Patterns

The blade has impressions of a sun and a moon with a man's face and a cluster of stars - one central star and six smaller stars. The handle is decorated with metal inlay near the bottom.

Dimensions: 48 × 22 × 4.5 cm
Condition: Fair - the axe blade is loose.
Current Location: British Museum, London, UK
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am1951,12.1
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1951
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: New England Co.
Collection Narratives and Histories

Collected by Milligan from Chief Waubuno. Donated to the British Museum by the New England Co. in 1951.

Exhibition History

British Museum, North American Gallery: first peoples, first contact, 2004.

Comment on Source of Exhibition & Publication Data

British Museum object catalogue.

GKS Reference Number: 26290
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Delaware artist, pipe tomahawk. Currently in the British Museum, Am1951,12.1. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 26290.

Record Creation Context

This record was created as part of a Great Lakes Research Alliance for the Study of Aboriginal Arts and Cultures (GRASAC) research trip to the Pitt Rivers Museum and British Museum, December 8-22 2007, funded by a grant from the International Opportunities fund of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC).

Record Creation Notes/Observations

Researchers present: Heidi Bohaker (HB), John Borrows (JB), Lindsay Borrows (LB), Darlene Johnston (DJ), Jonathan King (JK), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Bruce Morito (BM), Ruth Phillips (RP), Cory Willmott (CW).

Approximate Place of Origin

45.7171, -81.6848