West Africa, Cameroon, Grassfields region, Bamileke peoples, ca. mid-20th century CE. A fine pottery pipe of an intriguing anthropomorphic form bearing a heavily stylized human face on the front. The visage presents with protruding eyes and lips, an upturned nose, and conical cheeks adorned with impressed stippling. The larger cylindrical container is a receptacle for tobacco or other smokable substances, and the slender cylinder behind it is meant to hold a wooden pipe stem; a carburetor is located beneath the stem housing. Intricate foliage and linear motifs decorate the exterior of this lovely and functional smoking device. Size: 7.4" L x 3.375" W (18.8 cm x 8.6 cm); 7.5" H (19 cm) on included custom stand.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Eric Edwards collection, New York, USA
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#163219
Condition
Minor abrasions and nicks to face, receptacle cylinder, and pipe stem housing, with very light encrustations in some recessed areas, otherwise intact and very good. Nice preservation to finer details throughout.