West Africa, Cameroon, Bamun Peoples, ca. early 20th century CE. A fascinating pottery pipe bowl presenting in the form of a stylized male head extending from a tubular chamber that doubles as the figure's headdress. Highly abstract in its depiction, the emotive visage displays dramatically puffed cheeks, perhaps to mimic the expression of the smoker and give the heavy pipe bowl some stability, as well as bulging, ovoid eyes with delineated lids, arching, incised brows, a protruding forehead, a broad nose, and full lips held in a warm smile. Just below the mouth is a petite opening that leads to a slender tube where a brass or wood pipe stem with colorful beadwork would have been inserted. The cheeks are adorned by ceremonial scarification, likely created via stamped fabrics, while a pair of round ears flank the head, sitting far behind the brow. A beautifully incised design embellishes the towering headdress, comprised of 3 horizontal raised bands below an elaborately carved lattice motif. Size: 7.4" L x 4" W (18.8 cm x 10.2 cm); 7.9" H (20.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Traditionally, in the Cameroon grasslands, pipes were both status symbols and cult objects. During harvesting, clearing and planting times, pipe smoking was encouraged, since smoke was believed to promote fertility. Anthropomorphic pipe bowls were never created for the common man, but rather were reserved for more elite members of society. The largest and most intricately decorated pipes were made by male court ceramists for the king - known as the fon - and smoked only during important ceremonies to serve as visual attributes of royal might.

According to the Dallas Museum of Art, "The introduction of tobacco to sub-Saharan Africa in the 17th century inspired the creation of new prestige objects and leadership rituals. In the highly stratified Bamum Kingdom, which reached its peak in the 19th century, both men and women smoked tobacco in pipes befitting their social status."

Cf. Detroit Institute of Arts, 2019.211 and Dallas Museum of Art, 1999.60.

Provenance: ex-Coup de Foudre, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#170112

Losses to top of headdress and slender tube for pipe stem. Some stable hairline fissures to headdress. Some light abrasions and char marks commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, very nice with impressively preserved detail.