19th C. Cherokee Steatite Effigy Pipe with Seated Bird
Native American, Cherokee, ca. 1800–1899 CE. A dark steatite effigy pipe, carved in one piece with its bowl and a small seated bird rising together from a long, low base. The bowl is a thick-walled barrel with a heavy rolled lip. The bird sits at the stem end with its wings folded tight against its body. Rather than looking toward the bowl, it faces outward toward the smoker, so whoever held the pipe met its gaze with every draw. A few vertical ridges run down the back of its rounded head. These may stand for a crest or for feathers lying flat. Years of handling have polished the soft stone to a deep brown-black sheen, with warmer tones showing through at the high points. The bird's species and its exact meaning are uncertain. It was perhaps a clan or spirit emblem rather than simple ornament. Size: 3.25" H x 4.3" L x 1.25" W (8.3 cm H x 10.9 cm L x 3.2 cm W).
Steatite (soapstone) was the preferred pipe stone in the southern Appalachian homeland of the Cherokee. It is soft enough to carve with simple tools, holds fine detail, and stands up to heat. Effigy pipes with animals or birds facing the smoker belong to a long Southeastern and Eastern Woodlands tradition. Placing the figure this way puts the smoker face to face with the creature carved on the pipe. In the 19th century, Cherokee carvers in North Carolina and, after Removal, in Indian Territory kept making effigy pipes, both for use within the community and, later in the century, for outside collectors.
Provenance: private California, USA collection
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #205945
Condition
Expected surface wear with chip to beak as wellas nicks and abrasions in areas, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice with liberal remaining detail.
Native American, Cherokee, ca. 1800–1899 CE. A dark steatite effigy pipe, carved in one piece with its bowl and a small seated bird rising together from a long, low base. The bowl is a thick-walled barrel with a heavy rolled lip. The bird sits at the stem end with its wings folded tight against its body. Rather than looking toward the bowl, it faces outward toward the smoker, so whoever held the pipe met its gaze with every draw. A few vertical ridges run down the back of its rounded head. These may stand for a crest or for feathers lying flat. Years of handling have polished the soft stone to a deep brown-black sheen, with warmer tones showing through at the high points. The bird's species and its exact meaning are uncertain. It was perhaps a clan or spirit emblem rather than simple ornament. Size: 3.25" H x 4.3" L x 1.25" W (8.3 cm H x 10.9 cm L x 3.2 cm W).
Steatite (soapstone) was the preferred pipe stone in the southern Appalachian homeland of the Cherokee. It is soft enough to carve with simple tools, holds fine detail, and stands up to heat. Effigy pipes with animals or birds facing the smoker belong to a long Southeastern and Eastern Woodlands tradition. Placing the figure this way puts the smoker face to face with the creature carved on the pipe. In the 19th century, Cherokee carvers in North Carolina and, after Removal, in Indian Territory kept making effigy pipes, both for use within the community and, later in the century, for outside collectors.
Provenance: private California, USA collection
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
SHIPPING: We coordinate worldwide shipping in-house through specialist international forwarders experienced with fine art and antiquities customs manifests. International buyers must confirm, prior to bidding, that their country's customs authority will accept the item. All duties, taxes, clearance fees, and any costs arising from customs delays, seizures, re-export, returns, or loss in transit are the buyer's sole responsibility. Artemis assumes no liability for items refused entry, detained, or lost after export. We cannot ship ancient items to their country of origin (Egyptian to Egypt, Greek to Greece, etc.).For those not using LiveAuctioneers' Live Ship program, Artemis Fine Arts offers expert in-house packing and worldwide shipping. With over 20 years of experience, our team provides careful, reliable, and affordable service. For a quick quote on this lot, please contact support@artemisfinearts.com prior to the auction, or call 720-890-7700.
PAYMENT EXCEPTION: For clients not previously established with Artemis, payment for all gold, precious metal, and gemstone lots must be made by bank wire transfer or certified bank check/money order, without exception.
Item #205945
Condition
Expected surface wear with chip to beak as wellas nicks and abrasions in areas, all commensurate with age. Otherwise, very nice with liberal remaining detail.
