A fine Northwest Coast wood pipe bowlPossibly Haida, of squat bulbous form and raised lip, the deep bowl lined with a thin copper barrier, the body relief-carved with repeat registers of formline beaver motifs, drilled through the side for a pipe stem, the underside with a rounded humanoid face framed by fine parallel grooves. height 2 1/2in, diameter 3 7/8in FootnotesThe style of fine grooving framing the face is an ancient Northwest Coast surface technique that appears to predate the development of formline relief carving and can still be seen on the rims of some carved bowls and bent-corner dishes, along with frontlets and other objects. A pipe bowl sharing the same basic form as the present lot can be found in the collection of the National Museum of the American Indian (object number 2/8704), purchased by George Heye from George T. Emmons circa 1911. The reproduction of the original catalog inventory card describes the object as a "Feast pipe representing a killer-whale. Haida workmanship.", though the online catalog only provides a side view of the pipe.
A fine Northwest Coast wood pipe bowlPossibly Haida, of squat bulbous form and raised lip, the deep bowl lined with a thin copper barrier, the body relief-carved with repeat registers of formline beaver motifs, drilled through the side for a pipe stem, the underside with a rounded humanoid face framed by fine parallel grooves. height 2 1/2in, diameter 3 7/8in FootnotesThe style of fine grooving framing the face is an ancient Northwest Coast surface technique that appears to predate the development of formline relief carving and can still be seen on the rims of some carved bowls and bent-corner dishes, along with frontlets and other objects. A pipe bowl sharing the same basic form as the present lot can be found in the collection of the National Museum of the American Indian (object number 2/8704), purchased by George Heye from George T. Emmons circa 1911. The reproduction of the original catalog inventory card describes the object as a "Feast pipe representing a killer-whale. Haida workmanship.", though the online catalog only provides a side view of the pipe.
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.jpg "Source: Christie's")
.jpg "Source: Christie's")
