Celtiform Ball War Club

19th Century Celtiform ball war club from the Eastern plains. This is an unusual, early Celtiform ball head war club tomahawk with flaring blade dating to the 19th Century. The piece shows a root ball head with round body and flatter outside with a forged iron blade which is firmly secured in the head, with gasket holding it visible from the reverse. The iron blade extends past the back and out the front, tapering outward to a flaring rounded blade, the top and bottom have a hammered finish. As noted by Harold L. Peterson on Celtiform’s, “The use of iron for the blade and the apparent use of steel (metal) tools in fabricating the haft indicate that it is a post-contact specimen, but the workmanship suggest that the entire axe, including the head, is of Indian manufacture.” Most early Celtiform war clubs date to the 18th Century, post-contact, with this example being from the 19th Century, due to its crude construction. For similar documented Celtiform examples see Harold L. Peterson’s “American Indian Tomahawks” on page 101, pictured / figure 102, 103 and 104. These examples are attributed to the Indians of Oklahoma. The handle or haft is crudely made, from a root burl and branch / root all being one piece, of what appears to be hardwood. The wood has a deep chocolate old patina, The top has a slight point. The end of the haft has a worn finish from use.