Materials

This particular pipe bowl is solely carved from limestone.

Techniques or Format

It would have likely been carved with a knife and file.

Motifs and Patterns

There is a carving on the bowl that faces the smoker, which appears to represent a human face. Complete with wide oval eyes, a protruding nose, an unsmiling mouth, ears that slightly protrude from the base of the bowl, and a carved outline of a jaw. Approximately 2cm away from the bowl sits a seated male figure carved in the round, which is facing the smoker. His legs are drawn up; his hands appear to be resting on his knees, however upon closer inspection his forearms have been broken off. This male figure appears to have long hair that falls past his shoulders, and displays similar facial features to that of the carving on the bowl.

Additional Context

Important to note are the ‘ear’ like forms on the top of the head of the anthropomorphic figure, which may indicate that it represents a spirit being with some hybrid animal-human traits.

Other Notes

The figure carved in the round could be a god of the four winds; representing the semi-cardinal directions, or the four corners of the earth. Effigies directed towards the smoker could also represent his guardian spirit. The user maintained and fostered an intense relationship through communicating with the pipe and offering tobacco. In return, he acquired dream-songs, symbolic art-designs, instruction in the art of curing, and weather control.

Dimensions: 0 × 0 × 7 cm

Condition: While this piece has retained its dark black color, it has sustained some damage. It appears that there was an original additional carving at the proximal end of base, however this is now broken off and missing. In addition, as noted above, the forearms on the effigy figure have been broken off and are also missing.

Reasons for connecting this relative with particular times, materials, styles and uses

Pipes carved in effigy of this kind are dated and noted by both artist Paul Kane in his water colour paintings and Daniel Wilson in his book "Pipes and Tobacco" 1857.

Current Location: Canadian Museum of History, Ottawa, Canada

Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: III-G-823

Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1973

Collection Narratives and Histories

According to CMC records, this particular pipe was first collected by Paul Kane. At some point during his journey across the Great Lakes, Kane encountered Sir Daniel Wilson who subsequently added III-G-823 to his collection.

Exhibition History

In the summer of 1968 the Deutschen Ledermuseum at Offenbach exhibited the Speyer collection for the first time and published the long awaited catalog to accompany the exhibit.

Publication History

The Speyer collection is one of the largest groups of pre-1860 material. With 270 items listed in the catalog entries, about 210 of them are shown in illustrations.

Sources to Learn More

Feder, Norman.
1969 “Review of the Speyer Collection”. American Anthropologist 71:514-515.

GKS Reference Number: 25769