Tomahawk pipe, said to have belonged to Tecumseh, Shawnee
Maker: British
Medium:Brass, lead
Geography: Great Lakes region
Date: 1812
Object number: 911.3.181.A
Credit Line: Oronhyatekha Collection; gift of the Independent Order of Foresters
Gallery Location:Daphne Cockwell Gallery dedicated to First Peoples art & culture
DescriptionOronhyatekha Collection catalogue: "Tecumseh's brass tomahawk and peace pipe. This tomahawk was presented to Chief Tecumseh by order of General Sir Isaac Brock, on the Detroit River at Fort Malden or Amherstburg in Western Canada, on the occasion of Tecumseh and his warriors concluding to join forces with the British soldiers. Some half dozen of this pattern of tomahawk and pipe of peace had been made by royal order of George III, and sent to America to be presented to the Head Chiefs of any Tribes of Indians who might join forces with the British against the Americans. Tecumseh had this tomahawk in his belt behind his belt medal when he was killed at the battle of the River Thames in Western Canada. Oshawana, Tecumseh's chief warrior, removed the belt medal and the tomahawk from his body as he was leaning up against a tree when he had received his first wound."
