AMER WINTER 2018
The live portion of this session begins on Thursday, February 8, 2018.
RARE & HISTORIC PIERRE CHOTEAU MISSOURI MARKED WAR AXE.24" haft having 7" head with 3-3/4" cutting edge with punch dot star decorations with central raised cartouche "P.& C.". This mark has been associated with the well known Indian trader Pierre Choteau from St. Louis who worked circa 1780-1790. Similarly other forged iron implements with this mark are noted to be on display at the Missouri State Historical Society Museum along with additional items in of the Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, Nebraska. There is also a trade axe at the Museum of the American Indian with the same Choteau touch mark. This particular genre of Indian axe is quite rare, highly reproduced but this appears to be an original example with good provenance and condition. Similar examples found pg. 20, fig. 32 John Baldwin Tomahawks & Pipe Axes of the American Frontier, 1995; Pg 11, fig. 21 and pgs. 43, fig. 141 John Baldwin Indian War Clubs of the American Frontier, 2001; Pgs. 124-125 The Mark Francis Collection of American Indian Art, 2009; Pg. 14-19 The Missouri War Axe: War Tomahawk of the Plains & The Prairie, 2010. SIZE: As noted above. PROVENANCE: Choteau Family; John Baldwin Collection; Sotheby's, Lot 94, May 22, 2013; An extraordinary private estate collection of a distinguished Virginia gentleman. CONDITION: Very good overall. Haft has fine hand worn patina, head has iron patina with pitting & firmly attached, decoration and marks are well discerned. 52751-52 JGS (15,000-20,000)