4453 RARE AND HISTORIC SIOUX PEACE PIPE RECOVERED FROM

SOLD
6,875.00USD
This item SOLD at 2024 Nov 03 @ 18:03UTC-4 : AST/EDT
Category Firearms & Military
Auction Currency USD
Start Price 3,000.00 USD
Estimated at 6,000.00 - 8,000.00 USD
THE HISTORIC BATTLE OF THE LITTLE BIGHORN, PURPORTEDLY SITTING BULL’S OWN PIPE. On June 25th, 1876, General Custer and all of those immediately under his command were annihilated at that Battle of Little Bighorn by Sitting Bull and a large contingent of Indians made up of various tribes including the Sioux. Shortly after the battle, Captain Benteen together with troopers gathered the bodies of the fallen troopers to bury them onsite. At the time, various items were discovered and recovered, this mid 1860’s pipe being one of them. The pipe eventually became part of a Long Island Historical Society Collection. Attached is a small, very old script of paper stating it was picked up on the Custer Battlefield and was said to be owned by Sitting Bull himself. Eventually, later de-accessioned, the pipe made its way into the Alex Acevedo Collection. Acevedo amassed one of the largest collections of Custer related objects, most of which were sold by Butterfield’s in 1995. Later this became part of the Martin Lane Collection. It features a quilled haft with ribbons. The pipe and bowl presented in an archival box with decorative label and carries a signed letter from Alex Acevedo affirming the pipe’s origin and history. SIZE: The pipe is 27" overall including the Catlinite bowl. CONDITION: The pipe is generally good overall, the ribbons are frayed and faded and one detached. The quill work has reasonably good color but losses of about 50%. The wood stem has a nice old worn patina and is inscribed with a name which was scratched into it which we cannot discern. The pipe bowl needs a small shim to fit properly. The original paper label is faded but the writing is discernible. A truly historic item with a connection to one of the most famous Sioux Indian Chiefs of all time (02-23242/JDJ). $6,000-8,000.