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1957.153

ID Number: 1957.153
Category: Personal Artifacts
Sub-category: personal gear
Item Type: tomahawk
Item Name: pipe
Date: c. 1885
Materials: METAL, UNKNOWN WOOD, UNKNOWN
Measurements: overall: 8 in x 21 1/2 in
Description: wood, metal; handle with spiral band of charred wood; traces of red ochre
History: Belonged to Chief Mondoron (Joseph White), born January 19, 1808, now buried in Indian cemetery at Anderdon. The tomahawk was once owned by a Mr. Falls, a banker in Amherstburg. Joseph White died February 28, 1885. Joseph White was a Chief of the Wyandots. Natives fought with many different weapons during the War of 1812, including muskets, rifles, knives and tomahawks. A tomahawk could be used as a striking weapon, or it could be thrown as described by William Dunlop of the 89th Regiment of Foot: "[the chief] cut a small chip out of the bark of a tree, and standing some fourteen yards off, and taking his tomahawk with its pole to the front, he threw it, and it was buried some inches into the oak, with the handle utmost, it having turned round in its flight" (Beam1991). This tomahawk is called a pipe tomahawk and could have ceremonial functions in a smoking ritual as well as being used as a weapon.
Collection Name: Museum Windsor
Subject (Fre): Y

Subjects

Amherstburg (Ont.) place

Natives subject

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