Museum Collections
Luce Center
Indian axe
Object name
Indian axe
Date
17th century
Medium
Iron, wood
Dimensions
Overall: 23 1/2 x 6 x 1 3/4 in. ( 59.7 x 15.2 x 4.4 cm )
Description
Axe composed of tapered wood handle with wrought iron axe head connected to end; axe head has criss-cross mark on each side.
Credit Line
Gift of R. W. G. Vail
Object Number
1946.71
Marks
impressed: on each side of axe head: pound sign enclosed in circle
Gallery Label
According to the donor, this axe was found at Gangegora, the ancient capital of the Seneca Nation of the Iroquois on Boughton Hill, Victor, New York. This town was visited by the French and the Dutch and destroyed in the Devonville Expedition in 1687; it was never occupied thereafter. The axe was made in Europe and might have been traded to Native Americans.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.





