Cambridge Tomahawk in Vaseline ~Novelty~Toy~Souvenir~
Description
I purchased this in 2013 during the last auction featuring the late Bob & Geneva Leonard Collection. Many of these tomahawks, which are only 7 1/4" long, were used as souvenirs by etching business names or landmarks on the handle. The fine details of the American Indian's features and his headdress and beads are remarkably sharp and clear. It's very difficult to find these in a vaseline glass base color. See how it glows under a black light....Ugh! And HOW!
In general, it's also very difficult to find them in good shape. They were made two at a time in a double mould laying end to end. Then they were snapped apart and ground down. This method was far from perfect. To make the odds of survival worse, children couldn't resist playing with these.
All this has made them scarce but they are what many childhood memories were made from. I can imagine how they may have been won, sold or given away at a carnival, circus or Wild West show or purchased at souvenir shops along with moccasins and Mexican Jumping Beans.
The Christina Katsikas Collection
