NATIVE AMERICAN PLAINS INDIAN STONE HEAD WAR CLUB – IAN MORRIS WEST COLLECTION
A fascinating Native American Plains Indian stone head war club, featuring a distinctive drilled stone head with pointed ends, mounted onto a wooden shaft with a leather covering and original leather strap.
The piece displays clear signs of age and historical use, with natural wear consistent with its character and history. The stone head is particularly striking, with pointed ends and a substantial form.
An important feature of this piece is its documented provenance from the Ian Morris West Collection (IMW).
The club retains an Ian Morris West Collection label.
Provenance:
Ian Morris West Collection
Purchased from F. North, London, UK, 1959
Ian Morris West (1924–2015) was a passionate and well-known collector of Native American objects. He was a friend of Edward H. Blackmore (1898–1983), regarded as one of the foremost authorities on Native American Indians in the UK, as well as Dr Colin Taylor (1937–2004), a noted ethnologist and specialist in Native American culture.
West maintained a private museum at his home, The Forge, in Sussex, and was the author of Portraits of Native Americans, published by Salamander Books in 1997.
The connection to the Ian Morris West Collection gives this piece an especially interesting collecting history and adds significant provenance interest.
The club is in used antique condition, with age-related wear throughout.
The stone head is currently loose on the wooden shaft and would require attention if the new owner wishes to stabilise it. The pointed ends show some wear from age and use.
There is also visible wear to the leather grip, consistent with the age and handling of the piece.
Please study all photographs carefully, as they form an important part of the description and show the overall condition, construction and areas of wear.