Vintage Miniature War Club From Martha Struever Collection

As long as my dad's father was living, he'd buy Dad some kind of a toy every Christmas - even when Dad was a middle aged man. It's a good reminder that we're never too old to play. 

This vintage miniature war club from Martha Struever's Christmas collection is another reminder that we're never too old for fun - especially during the holidays.

The head of the war club is a natural stone, and it's still tightly attached to the handle with sinew. The wooden handle is painted one one side with multi-colored tourist-style motifs. A carved feather and a single red bead hang from the side as an adornment. 

The handmade club is like those sold at trading posts in New Mexico and Arizona. It's likely a Navajo piece.

Since Marti Struever had two sons, you wonder if she initially collected this piece for them, so that they could have a little bit of that Christmas fun. Whatever the case, you'd have found it hanging from one of her Christmas trees year after year.

War club measures 6 1/4" x 2 1/8"