Sale Highlight! Incredible Popeye Birdstone known as the "Townsend Rocking Birdstone".

Sale Highlight! Incredible Popeye Birdstone known as the "Townsend Rocking Birdstone". This artifact comes with exceptional history. In researching the Townsend Catalog for the provenance of this artifact (Townsend catalog #T-4579), Townsend starts his journal log entry with "One of the finest birdstones in the world. Figure C, plate 175 of my book". His log entry includes the following information: "Sold to me by James L. Ritchie on 10/3/77". The reason it is known as the "Townsend Rocking Birdstone" is from his journal statement "When placed on a flat surface and tilted it will rock for 34 seconds". While his log initially states it is from Lapeer Co., Michigan he later added the note that this item is illustrated in Hinsdale's 1925 book "Primitive Man in Michigan" as being from Genessee Co., Michigan. It is pictured in this book as figure 7, plate XX. It is also pictured in Moorehead's 1917 book "Stone Ornaments of the American Indian" on page 263, figure 201. The entry in this book also states that it is from the collection of C. A. Thompson of Hillsdale, Michigan. Townsend included this birdstone in his book "Birdstones of the North American Indian" on page 461, plate 175. He also attributed that the piece was found in Marathon Twp., Lapeer Co., Michigan by Bert Purdy on his farm. It was also in the collection of H. C. Moore of Columbiaville, Michigan. Columbiaville is in Lapeer County, so I believe the Genessee County reference was an oversight. This artifact was cataloged by the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. and assigned catalog number 289105. Townsend states in the birdstone book it was made from black slate. However, when he acquired the original artifact later in 1977, he noted in his catalog listing "When I was at the Smithsonian writing my book I called it black Slate because the cast (he was working with) was painted black. Note it is actually a beautifully banded black and green Banded Slate". It was also noted that the original was at Alma College. Jim Richie, who acquired this relic and sold it to Townsend stated he received it from a College professor. This artifact measures 3 3/4" long by 2 1/16" high and is in pristine condition. While it is undrilled, there is a small tap hole started at the rear. This is a highly collectible Glacial Kame Culture artifact. From the collection of Frank Foremny.