The Story and Art of the Crooked Knife
by Ned Jalbert
The Woodland Indian's Indispensable Survival Tool
The Art of the Crooked Knife
THE CROOKED KNIFE HALL OF FAME
The eleven crooked knives in The Crooked Knife Hall of Fame are some of the most beautiful ever made. They represent the highest level of artistic achievement not only in crooked knives, but in all of EasternWoodlands small-scale sculpture. Although many of these have been exhibited and published, many will be unknown to our viewers. All of these crooked knives are now in museums or private collections.
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The great crooked knife artists fully understood that their unique art form would not be viewed statically, they knew it would be viewed while the knife was in use, while it was moving. With that background, animal and human effigies became inspirited, imbued with the aliveness and motion. It is in this context, that the handles themselves became remarkable and significant works of art. The knives in The Crooked Knife Hall of Fame embody all that is wonderful in crooked knives- art, history, utility, antiquity, and the spirit of craftsmanship.
No.1
No. 1 The 1814 Beaver Crooked Knife
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Northeast Woodlands/ Maliseet
Circa: 1814
Hardwood, cotton and vegetal fiber wrapping over hide, re-purposed European steel blade.
Overall Length: 9.5"
Overall Width: 1.25"
Blade dimensions: Unknown
Handle Dimensions: Unknown
Angle of Blade to Handle: Unknown
Weight: 113 grams
Ex: Adelaide de Menial Collection, NY, NY accession # A8756
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston accession number 2021.148
Extensive provenance, publication and exhibition history.
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Notable features: 1) the earliest dated crooked knife known 2) a remarkable effigy of the beaver created at the height of the Beaver Trade Era 3) a near identical knife (most likely by the same hand ) is now in the collection of the Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City, Missouri ( accession number 2016.57.2)
4.) the rich blackened patina contrasts with the tawny colored translucent high points 5) the binding is comprised of two types of vegetal fiber wrapped over hide- an extremely early feature
No. 1
No. 1
No.2
No. 2 The Iroquois Bold Face Crooked Knife
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Northeast Woodlands/Iroquois
Circa 1790-1820
Dense hardwood, steel wire, European steel blade, blue-green pigment
Overall Length: 8.0"
Overall Width: 1.75"
Blade dimensions: Unknown
Handle dimensions: Unknown
Angle of Blade to Handle: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Ex: Adelaide de Menil Collection, NY, NY , accession # A8429
Extensive provenance, publication and exhibition history.
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Notable features; 1) a monumental Human visage that keeps watch over the user 3) a remarkable original surface 4) has decades of exhibition and publishing history; making it perhaps the most well know crooked knife extant 6) the artist was able to sensitively render human emotion within well defined facial features.
No. 2
No.3
No.3
Coastal New England/ Canadian Maritimes
Circa : 1850-1875
Hardwood, brass wire, pigments, iron nail
Overall Length: 11.0"
Overall Width: 1.75"
Blade dimensions: 6.0
Blade thickness: 3 mm
Handle dimensions: 5.5"
Angle of Blade to Handle: 30°
Weight: 91 grams
Ex: Thomas Lackey Collection
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Notable features: 1) the artist carved this knife in the "Tramp Art" style; stacked devices with heavily serrated chip carved edges 2) the stacked hearts curve and bend over the scroll handle 3) was exhibited and published in numerous Canadian Folk Art exhibitions 4) a long graceful curved blade 5) an imaginative and enthusiastic use of color 6) a fine original finish
No. 3
The Polychrome Tramp Art Crooked Knife
No. 3
No. 3
No. 3
No. 3
Author's Note : I love this knife- the color placement, quality, of carving , and imagination of the carver is extraordinary
No. 4 The Modest Woman Crooked Knife
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Eastern Woodlands/ Delaware or Leni-Lenape
Circa 1840-1860
Hardwood, metal strapping, European steel trade blade, nails, pigment, shellac
Overall Length: 11.625"
Overall Width : 2.0"
Blade Length: Unknown
Blade Width: 0.75"
Blade Thickness: Unknown
Handle Dimensions: Unknown
Angle of Blade to Handle: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Extensive exhibition and publishing history
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Notable features:
1) a fine example of an animated yet passive visage; a style mastered by Eastern Woodland Indians 2) its imagery is said to have been influenced by a ship's masthead 3) the genuine female modesty 4) its currently exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NY, NY
No. 4
No.4
No. 4
No. 4
No. 5 The Chandler-Pohrt Mesquakie Horse Knife
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Western Great Lakes
Mesquakie , Collected in Tama , Iowa
Circa : 1840
Maple, rawhide, European steel blade
Overall Length 10.5"
Overall Width: 1.0"
Blade dimensions: Unknown
Handle dimensions: Unknown
Angle of Blade to Handle: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Ex: Chandler-Phort Collections
Extensive provenance, publication and exhibition history.
Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase , accession number 81.498
Notable features: 1) from a group of Western Great Lakes crooked knives with similar Horse effigies 2) an impeccable provenance and collection history; acquired in the field by legendary collectors 3) a deep dark translucent patina 4) it most likely dates to the late 18th century 5) the substantial re-curved and repurposed European steel trade blade
No. 5
No. 6. The Horse and Rider Crooked Knife
No. 6
No.6
No. 6
No. 6. The Horse and Rider Crooked Knife
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Western Great Lakes/ Prairie
Ojibwa, possibly Mesquakie
Circa : 1850-1875
Heat scorched maple, iron blade with hand filed chevrons, silver inlays on horse & riders, pigment, iron nails
Overall Length: 13.0"
Overall Width: 1.0"
Blade Length: Unknown
Blade Width: Unknown
Blade Thickness; Unknown
Angle of Blade to Handle: Unknown
Weight: Unknown
Ex: Adelaide de Menial Collection, NY, NY with accession number on blade # A7447
Extensive provenance, publication and exhibition history.
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Notable features: 1) an early ( 18th century ? ) hand forged blade with filed chevron patterns 2) the horse's mane gently folds over the neck 3) a silver peace medal inlaid on the riders chest, the only known crooked knife to have this unique decorative element 4) the overall size and scale of the sculpture
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Author's note: .....Peter Furst wrote about this knife... " One of the masterpieces of Woodlands Indian art, this knife was part of the Sacred Circles exhibition, which opened in London in 1976 and subsequently traveled to the U.S.", ( Furst, 1982 )
No. 7 The Mallard Effigy Crooked Knife
No.7. The Mallard Effigy Crooked
Knife
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Eastern Woodlands
Circa 1850-1875
Overall Length: 9.75"
Overall Width : 1.0 "
Blade Length: 4.25"
Blade Width: 0.5"
Blade Thickness: 3.6 mm
Handle Length: 7.0"
Angle of Blade to Handle: 18°
Weight: 126 grams
Maple, brass tacks, brass wire over hide wrapping, re-purposed European steel blade
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Notable features; 1) the only known crooked knife carving of a Mallard 2) the rare use of brass tacks, here counter-sunk to create a recessed eyeball within an eye socket 3) the sparse but purposeful use of two different gauges of brass wire 4) the artist achieved a decoy -like realism.
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No. 7
No. 8
No. 8 The de Menil Bending Figure Crooked Knife
No. 8 The de Menil Bending Figure Crooked Knife
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Northeast Woodlands / Iroquois
Hardwood, lead inlay, re-purposed European steel file blade, pigments, shellac
Circa 1750-1775
Overall Length: 9.0"
Overall Width: 2.0"
Blade Length: 3.0 "
Blade Width: 0.5 "
Blade Thickness: 3.0 mm
Overall Length of Handle: 5.25"
Angle of Blade to Handle : 22°
Weight: 181 grams
Ex: Adelaide de Menial Collection, NY, NY accession # A7571
Extensive provenance, publication and exhibition history.
Notable features: 1) an extremely rare depiction of a full-bodied human; a one-of-a-kind depiction of a bending figure 2) that 18th century crooked knives are extremely rare 3) has fine original lead inlay 4) a beautifully and carefully re-purposed European steel trade blade 5) a deep original finish 6 ) the figure has a wonderful face ( not shown ) that gazes backwards towards the user 6) ex. Adelaide de Menial collection with an accompanying photograph ( not shown) of this knife in situ 7 ) the fact that many scholars and collectors consider this the finest crooked knife extant
No.9
No.9
No.9
No.9
No. 9 The Bear Cub Crooked Knife
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Northeast Woodlands / Iroquois
Hardwood, brass tacks, copper wire, re-purposed File blade
Circa 1850-1875
Overall Length: 8.25"
Overall Width: 2.0"
Blade Length: 3.125 "
Blade Width: 0.5 "
Blade Thickness: 4.75 mm
Overall Length of Handle: 5.0"
Angle of Blade to Handle : 11°
Weight: 181 grams
Notable features:
1) a sensitive and delicate depiction of a Bear Cub
2) to render young animals in Eastern woodlands sculpture is very unusual 3) has tiny Cobbler's nails for eyes 4) a dense and heavy re-purposed file blade that is both curved and turned on its axis 5 ) has alert and awake ears 6) the artist found a simple but particularly effective way ,a fur collar, to terminate the bear cub's head on the haft.
No. 10
The de Menil Woman's Torso Crooked Knife
Eastern Woodlands / Iroquois
Circa: 1840-1860
Harwood, curved re-worked iron blade, copper wire wrap, red pigment ( likely vermillion)
Overall Length: 10.25"
Overall Width: 1.5"
Blade Length: 4 .5"
Blade Width: 0.5"
Blade Thickness: 2.35 mm
Handle Length: 6.0"
Angle of Blade to Handle: 36°
Weight: 84 grams
Ex: Adelaide de Menil Collection, NY, NY, accession # A7422
Extensive provenance, publication and exhibition history
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Notable features: 1) the torso was once entirely painted Vermillion red 2) an iron blade likely re-purposed from a barrel hoop 3) a mysterious, sensual and compelling woman's torso 4) the users thumb rests snugly in the crook of the bent knees.
No. 10
No. 11 Penobscot Human Hand Crooked Knife
No. 11 Penobscot Human Hand Crooked Knife
Northeastern Woodlands/ Penobscot
Hardwood, European steel blade, copper wire
Circa 1850-1860
Overall Length: 9.0"
Overall Width: 2.5"
Blade Length: 3.25"
Blade Width: 0.25"
Blade Thickness: 2.79mm
Handle Length: 5.0"
Angle of Blade to Handle: 35 °
Weight: 89 grams
Ex: Adelaide de Menil Collection, NY, NY
Extensive provenance, publication and exhibition history.
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Notable features: 1 ) a particularly fine example of a hand ; an iconic form preferred by the Penobscot ( Speck, 1940 ) 2) a curious hole in the palm filled with a hide plug 3) a deep brown patina acquired from decades of use
4) the copper wire covers a hide " comfort" strip that lies atop the tang channel.
Author's note:
The vast majority of human hand crooked knives depict the left hand.
Why ? Because, it's more ergonomic for a right-handed using the knife. Depicting a right hand would be more ergonomic for a let-handed user.
How are knives chosen for The Crooked Knife Hall of Fame ?
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To evaluate the quality and art of a crooked knife, one must employ the "whole is equal to the sum of its parts" approach. All the parts of the knife 1) the blade 2) handle 3) wrapping need to be evaluated individually and then collectively as part of an overall aesthetic.
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This includes a review of :
1) the overall architecture of the knife
2) the balanced and cohesiveness of the design
3) the patina and finish
4) the blade quality
5) the binding
6) the rarity of form
7) the originality of the imagery
8) the quality of the carving
9) the provenance, publishing and exhibition history
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If you know of a crooked knife that deserves to be in The Crooked Knife Hall of Fame, please contact us we would love to consider adding it