Some of my finds of a lifetime.......

[Treasure_Hunter]

I use to deal in antique newspapers, Harpers Weekly, Leslie Weekly years ago, as well as I collected maps on early America and books on the American Indian. I also collected indian artifacts, use to walk the creeks, streams, and rivers in Missouri.

One of the gentlemen I dealt with who was also in antique newspapers in St Louis came across some nice artifacts and purchased them knowing I would be interested in them, and I purchased the 3 piece set from him when he showed them to me, this was over 17 years ago.

With in an hour of purchasing them another collector came into his shop while I was still there and wanted to buy them. He offered me twice what I had just paid for them less then an hour earlier, but I turned him down. The set was a water bottle, axe and bowl. The bottle was made from the bladder of a bear that was filled with water, then cover with clay and allowed to dry. It is wrapped in leather straps, has a top cap made from tip of buffalo horn, and has fettishes, and whistles from bird bone tied to the leather. All were found together in a cave in New Mexico.

The last offer I turned down on the water bottle was $2500 over 10 years ago. The axe has an iron bit, and handle is the original handle with leather straps. Because all were found together in a cave in New Mexico, they with stood the ravages of time.




Water Bottle (I keep it in a glass cover).


Axe is on the right


Bowl on left is the one

[GL]

Mercy!

[Tnmountains]

Great historical buys and investments. I am sure many would just love to study the way it was all put together. Very nice. Thanks for taking the time to show. I am glad you did not sell them.
TnMtns

[SoIll]

tell us about the pipes and discoidals. Are they from Mo.?

[Treasure_Hunter]

Discodials are from Missouri found on edges of Missouri river years apart.

Trade pipes are Missouri finds.

Platform pipe is from Illinois, it was "killed" when found and was put back together, except for a small piece on the stem, it is all there.

The black bird effigy pipe is a creek find from Missouri, the effigy faces the smoker.

In front of the iron axe, the one the right side of waterbottle is a stone finger paint bowl from Missouri.

On left side of iron axe behind bird effigy pipe is small clay bowl from southern Missouri, it has 4 loops to hang from straps.

The glass inkwell is a "carters" inkwell, it was found in the early 60's on what was one of the Cheyenne camp sites after the Little Bighorn battle in Montana. Suspected to be from the battle, but there is no way to prove it.

Eagle effigy sitting inside water bottle case is from Missouri Arkansas border.

Last but certainly not least the black figurine on the left side of water bottle is a morning flute, it can play a tune, it is made of clay , and from Illinois


All of my hunting was on private land and with the permission of the owners. I was taught how to search the creeks, streams and rivers by an man I met while walking farm fields, we became friends and he invited me along to hunt with him and he taught me how to do it. I would spend all day walking creeks and streams, especially after heavy rains. My good finds went up probably 6 fold.

I am a collector, I would trade pieces, as well as buy at auctions held by some of the old farmers who farmed along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and collected artifacts on their farms. I have been to auctions where there were litterly hundreds of unbelievable pieces auctioned off.

[Airborne80]

What a great read and view of your post. Thank you for that awesome!! That ink well and the probable history... wow!

[marty from missouri]

wow thats impressive ty for taking the time to share and get all our hearts beating alil faster awesome collection and finds . goodluck in the future marty