pipe bowl

pipe bowl

pipe bowl

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Images
Introduction

A stone pipe bowl with carved images of a sun, possibly a sky dome, possibly five thunderbird men, and a turtle with a four-directional circle of metal inlay on its back. The thunderbirds look both bird-like and human, possibly indicating a transformation image. Likely Anishinaabe.

Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe
Nation of Origin

Museum documentation

Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

GRASAC generated.

Materials

very heavy grey stone; possibly metal(?) inlay

Techniques or Format

Carved stone with engraved motifs and possibly metal(?) inlay

Motifs and Patterns

Five thunderbird men on the top and sides of the stem end. A semi-circle with sun above on the inner side of the bowl end; a turtle with four-directional circle metal inlay on the other side of the bowl end.

Additional Context

The thunderbirds look both bird-like and human - perhaps a transformation image. When the stem end faces the smoker, the sun image is directly facing above a semi-circle, perhaps a sky dome(?) and the thunderbird men are on the base surface in front.

Other Notes

There were also five thunderbirds on the quill wrapped pipe stem in the DAM collection suggesting the number may be significant (1970.523 a, b)

Dimensions: 13.5 × 11 × 0 cm
Current Location: Denver Art Museum, CO, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 1948.268
GKS Reference Number: 26732
Record Creation Context

Visit to Denver Art Museum of Alex Nahwegahbow and Ruth Phillips, assisted by Eric Berkemeyer and Kristin Strid on 22 Jan 2014

Approximate Place of Origin

43.0703, -80.1184

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