Native American, Early, Wire Wrapped Pipe Tomahawk

Native Plains

Mid 19th century or earlier | Steel, Wood, Copper wire, German Silver, Glass Beads, Hide | Item 1548

This is an early wire wrapped pipe tomahawk with provenance. The tribal affiliation is unknown. The consensus on the dating is before the reservation period, perhaps as late as 1865. The head is likely earlier than this, dating to the first half of the 19th century. The haft may be original to the head, but it may be a later addition, but not later than 1865.

The haft is wood, with a cutout two thirds down the haft slightly raised to hold the German sliver band. The entire haft is wrapped with wire that is a mix of copper likely with tin (brass?). There are spotty remnants of vermillion paint in the wire wrapping. The mouthpiece at the front is lead as is the cap for the top of the haft adjacent to the axe head. The axe head is steal, and may have been made from a gun barrel. The axe head has a wonderful patina on it, a soft, golden hue to the surface. The axe head has, on both sides, rocker engraving in a decorative manner on German silver. The axe head has a slight twist to it, either a result of the blacksmithing or its heavier use.

There is a German silver band two thirds down the haft that appears similar to the engraving on the axe head, but at a slightly larger scale. This band is fitted over the haft with hide acting as a gasket. This hide piece then hangs from the haft and is separated into four, suspended parts, 3 of which remain. These three strips have been colored with green minerals. Each hide portion ends with a wrapping of fine, glass beads and then fringe, some of which have heavy brass/copper cones.

Provenance

From the Collection of Anne MacDougall of Wenatchee, WA. Anne inherited this item, along with other items, from her stepfather James E. Lindston, president of the Lake Chelan Historical Society. Mr. Lindston acquired the collection of Alvin Leon “Allie” Woodin (5/28/1868 – 11/24/1953) while he ran the main Bank of Chelan.

Allie Woodin homesteaded at Lake Chelan, WA state in the late 19th century (1887?). He built the first saw mill for the region. His daughter Marthalene Filley McGill wrote a small book on the stories of Allie Woodin’s life in and around Chelan, WA. The book is titled Bits and Pieces Of Pioneer Life Around Lake Chelan, Washington and contains a photograph of Allie’s grand daughter holding this axe. Mr Woodin became friends with many Natives in the area as he was fluent in sign language and Chinook. He became friends with both Chief Joseph and Chief Moses. This tomahawk could have come from one of many relationships he had with Native Americans in the Pacifica NW and beyond. There is a group of early, Great Lakes items that likely came with his father later on when he joined his son Allie in Lake Chelan. The family originated from Waupun, Wisconsin and the majority of these early, Native American objects are from the Great Lakes Area. It’s possible the tomahawk could have been a part of this grouping as well. An original copy of this book is included with the axe, as are all the other photos and papers on this collection.

The final photograph herein shows Allie Woodin at the Carlisle Indian Industrial School around 1928 dressed in his Native regalia. He holds this same axe in his left arm. He is adjacent to a Native friend, who’s name we do not know.