An extremely rare Woodlands halberd-style tomahawk
Forged in one piece, with expansive blade and opposing pointed spike, a chamfered crown overhead below the tapering vestigial spear point, a ball finial at the butt end.
length 28 1/4in
length 28 1/4in
Sold for
US$ 10,980
inc. premium
Footnotes
- Cf:
Peterson, Harold L., pp. 27-28, ill. 54-60 with descriptive text on pp. 93-94
"Another variety of tomahawk named after a European polearm is the halberd type. This was a polearm weapon consisting of an axe blade with a opposing spike or hood, and crowned with a spear point...The halberd tomahawk developed early in the 18th century and apparently was of British origin. Most surviving specimens come from areas of New York and New England where British influence was strong, and a very few specimens are known from the southern Great lakes area that may have migrated there from the East.
An excellent contemporary illustration of the halberd tomahawk which is also further evidence of its British origin is found in the mezzotint portrait of the Mohawk chief, King Hendrick, published in London prior to his death at the Battle of Lake George in 1775 (see Pl. VII).
Usually forged from one piece of steel, it was normally quite thin and light...
As a form, the halberd tomahawk did not last very long. Less than fifty years would probably cover its active life. Some specimens are well balanced and practical, but many are fantastically designed and poorly balanced. Light hooks with no point or edge are found in place of the spike, and extra-long spear points, sometimes with barbed ends, made them difficult to carry. In fact, it has been asserted that the inconvenience caused by these spear points was the principle reason for the abandonment of this type. Since tomahawks were usually carried thrust through the belt at the right side and slightly to the rear, the spear point could thus easily become a nuisance or even a danger. The spear point actually was of little or no value in fighting; it did offer one more possibility of striking a victim with a cutting edge if thrown end-over-end, but it sometimes hindered a stroke when held in the hand. Halberd tomahawks also were weapons only, since they were too light for effective chopping even of small branches. More efficient tomahawks that could also be used as tools were available, and so the halberd type disappeared."
Category: Ethnographic Art / Native American
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