pwaagan pipe bowl

pwaagan pipe bowl

pwaagan pipe bowl

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Introduction

This ancestor is a pipe bowl made from catlinite that has been carved, and is red-brown in colour. The pipe bowl has an octagonal bowl, and rectangular base with four short grooved lines on the outer sides. The carvings on this bowl show a four-legged animal with horns, snout and long tail, which according to David Penney, could be a panther. Alongside this is an "H"-like shape which may be a scaffold for hanging medicine. The final panel shows a tree-shaped figure. This pipe, or "pwaagan", has tobacco debris in its joints. This ancestor is located in the Detroit Institute of Arts. 

 

Maker role: Artist
Nation of Maker: Anishinaabe
Place of Origin: Minnesota, USA
Date Made or Date Range: 1860
Summary of Source(s) for this Relative

Detroit Institute of Arts records and Curator David Penney

Materials

catlinite

Techniques or Format

Bulging, faceted bowl (octagonal section) on base with four short grooved lines on outer sides (but not front and back).

Motifs and Patterns

On the front of bowl when facing the smoker, there is a lightly incised four-legged animal with horns, snout and long tail. Although it is not clearly identified, it might be a panther according to David Penney. Beside it is what appears to be an "H"-like shape that looks like a scaffold for hanging medicine. On the next panel moving clockwise is an incised tree-shaped figure. Going counter-clockwise, the panel next to the four-legged animal has a long rectangle.

Additional Context

David Penney has interpreted the horned animal as possibly being a panther.

Original and Subsequent Uses

Tobacco inside the pipe still indicates it was smoked.

Dimensions: 1.625 × 1.25 × 2.625 in
Condition: Shows evidence of extensive use; has not been cleaned - tobacco debris still present, and the place where the bowl joins the stem is clogged with debris. It is possible that the collector, Pohrt, smoked it.
Current Location: Detroit Institute of Arts, MI, USA
Catalogue, Accession or Reference Number: 81.248
Link to Institution's Collections Database: https://dia.org/collection/pipe-bowl-37697
Collection at Current Location: Chandler Pohrt Collection
Date of Acquisition by the Institution: 1981
Who the Institution Acquired the Relative or Heritage Item From: Richard A. Pohrt
Collection Narratives and Histories

Milford G. Chandler [1889-1981]

purchased by Richard A. Pohrt [1911-2005] (Flint, Michigan, USA)

1981-present, purchased 1981 by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

GKS Reference Number: 24675
How to Cite this Item

Unknown Maker. "Pipe Bowl", GKS ID 24675, located in the Detroit Institute of Arts, catalogue number 81.248.

Record Creation Context

The original record was created by David Penney. The record was augmented by Natasha Fares in January 2024.

Approximate Place of Origin

46.7296, -94.6859

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