Native American, Pacific Northwest Coast, United States or Canada, Tlingit or Haida people, ca. late 19th to mid-20th century CE. A stunning smoking pipe carved from a single piece of marine mammal bone and inlaid with nacre shells. The upturned front head has the bared teeth of a bear or other predatory animal with a frog head on top just before the rim of the copper receptacle bowl. The stem is formed by the bear's body and a raven facing towards the mouthpiece, and a human figure held in the bird's beak- this figure's open mouth forming the inhalation hole. Size: 13.25" L x 1.5" W x 3.875" H (33.7 cm x 3.8 cm x 9.8 cm)
Provenance: private Brevard, North Carolina, USA collection
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#171030
Condition
Surface nicks and natural pitting, striations and dark patina on bone, with minor chips and bending to copper insert, otherwise intact and excellent. Great detailing throughout.