Exceptional Artifact & Collectible Auction
Lot 151:
6 1/8" Finely Made Stanfield Blade found in Callaway County, Missouri w/ Keele COA
Large Stanfield blade measuring 6 1/8 inches, crafted from high quality Burlington chert. This is a well made Late Archaic knife form with strong workmanship, balanced proportions, and the classic thinning patterns associated with the type. Both faces exhibit broad, controlled percussion thinning, producing long sweeping flake scars across the blade. The edges show careful finishing, and the outline is clean, symmetrical, and well proportioned. The size, symmetry, and overall execution place this piece among the more substantial Missouri examples of the Stanfield tradition.
The blade carries exceptional and well documented provenance. It was found in Callaway County, Missouri and later entered the noted collection of Glen Leesman, where it was cataloged as L295. Leesman also maintained a separate catalog system for his display collections, where this blade appears as L858. Glen kept a detailed journal of his acquisitions, and this piece was purchased from Bob Onken in 1983. The blade is pictured in Who’s Who in Indian Artifacts, Number 6, page 210, and the Leesman collection itself was featured in Who’s Who Number 9, pages 188–189, where this blade can be seen among the shelves of large blades he displayed. The artifact later passed through the Mark McDaniels and Jeff Gower collections, further strengthening its chain of custody.
This artifact is an unquestionably authentic Stanfield blade, exhibiting all diagnostic traits of the type, including its long narrow blade, broad percussion thinning, and refined overall symmetry. The Burlington chert shows proper ancient surface characteristics consistent with long term burial, with no evidence of modern reworking, resharpening, or restoration.
A high quality and unquestionably authentic Stanfield blade, supported by excellent workmanship, strong patination, extensive documented provenance, publication history, and a Keele COA—an outstanding example of the type.Provenance: Found in Callaway County, Missouri; Ex Glen Leesman Collection (L295 and L858); Ex Mark McDaniels Collection; Ex Jeff Gower Collection; Keele COA.
Condition: Authentic
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