Sold for $22,500

Sold prices are inclusive of Buyer’s Premium

Lot Description

Missouri River Figural Ball Club

third quarter 19th century

handle having a scalloped edge detailed with 29 brass tacks; circular mirror inset on one side; steel blade; club topped with a running horse; red and green pigments

overall length 25 inches

The Missouri River was about as far west as the ball club was used. One or possibly a few carvers among the North Dakota Sioux produced magnificent hand weapons... during the last third of the nineteenth century... This one, 25 inches long, differs from other examples in that it has a running horse instead of a human head carved on it.

The ball has a blade protruding from it that originally was a knife blade. The inlaid mirror permitted the owner to use it as a mirror board (Hanson 1994: 36).

Published:
Spirits of the Art (Hanson 1994: 36, plate 35)

Condition Report

Ball has some repairwork

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