Native American, Southeastern United States, Tennessee, likely Cherokee, ca. 19th to mid-20th century CE. A cute and fabulous effigy stone platform smoking pipe in the form of a seated toad or frog. The amphibian crouches on the curved stem, the limbs in relief against the textured body, and the ridged eyelids raised up before an elongated snout. The surface is scored to create a bumpy texture like a toad's skin, contrasting against the highly polished platform. The effigy faces the same direction as the inhalation hole; the snout and eyes are directly in the smoker's line of sight, forming a spiritual connection with each breath. Tobacco was used in ceremonial contexts, the smoke carrying prayers to the great beyond, helped by the totemic guides on the pipe. Size: 5.75" L x 2" W x 3" H (14.6 cm x 5.1 cm x 7.6 cm)

Smoking pipes played an important role in Eastern Woodland culture, which spanned from sub-Arctic Canada to the southern United States. The earliest evidence we have for the use of tobacco in this area comes from ca. 100 to 200 CE; in addition to tobacco, and often prior to it, we know from ethnohistorical accounts that people smoked a variety of other plants, including dogwood, juniper, sumac, and bearberry. These pipes were not just made for the simple act of smoking, they had a strong religious component as well, and various archaeological sites from the Hopewell period have contained the remains of hundreds of destroyed platform pipes. This later 19th century frog pipe harkens back to the Hopewell tradition that the Cherokee are descended from.

Provenance: private South Carolina, USA collection

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#171172

Professionally repaired, snout reattached, break line is slightly visible. Minor surface nicks and chips, otherwise excellent condition. Light mineral deposits and find site label on base.