Materials

The tomahawk head is made of iron. The handle is made of wood, decorated with iron edging.

Motifs and Patterns

There is an 'H' incised on the proper right of the blade, along with a triangle or diamond on both sides of pipe bowl. Four elongated pentagons decorate the metal lip and a zig zag cut edging is found on the outer handle edge of lip.

Dimensions: 56.5 × 0 × 0 cm

Condition: Good. It smells of tobacco which means it has been used.

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Acquired by the British Museum in 1949.

Based on style and materials, Autumn Epple theorizes this pipe was made between 1870 and 1930.

Current Location: British Museum, London, UK

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: Am1949.22.157

Related language items in the GKS: pwaagan otsogwahdaˀ

GKS Reference Number: 1062

How to Cite this Item

Unknown artist, tomahawk pipe. Currently in the British Museum, Am1949.22.157. Item photographed and described as part of a GRASAC research trip December 2007; GRASAC item id 1062.

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), Stacey Loyer (SL), Janis Monture (JM), Bruce Morito (BM), Ruth Phillips (RP), Cory Willmott (CW).