Smoking pipes, also known as calumets or chanupa, were some of the most prized possessions among almost all Native American tribes. The two most common styles were the larger ceremonial calumet and a smaller personal pipe. Pipe bowls were generally carved from sacred pipestone, also known as Catlinite (named for the artist George Catlin, who spent much time living among and painting the Indians of the northern plains), which is found in only one place in Minnesota. The stone bowls were often decorated with inlaid designs of lead retrieved from old bullets; today silver is usually used. Native Americans to this day are still making pipes out of stone extracted from these sacred quarries. Pipestems were most often carved from ash or sumac and decorated with eagle feathers, dyed horsehair and porcupine quillwork. Later, after the Europeans introduced beads,
Pipes
Painting by George Catlin, circa 1830
beadwork often replaced quillwork .
Our pipes are based on several original examples seen in museums and the paintings of George Catlin. They are made from the traditional Catlinite, in most cases inlaid with silver. The pipestems are made from ash and wrapped in beadwork and buckskin, and further decorated with hand-painted simulated eagle feathers and red dyed horsehair. Each pipe is meticulously handcrafted in the highest quality using only the best original materials available.
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Item #01
Bowl Stem Front view
The above pipe is a large calumet designed for ceremonial use. The overall length is 30 inches; the silver-inlaid Catlinite bowl measures 4 inches high by 6 inches long. The ash stem features a hand-burned traditional "vertebrae" design.
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Item #02
Bowl Stem Front view
The above pipe is a slightly smaller personal pipe with an overall length of 24 inches. The Catlinite bowl is carved in the traditional "elbow" style and has a silver inlay; the bowl measures 2.5 inches high by 4 inches long. The ash stem features genuine rabbit fur and is hung with hand-painted imitation red-tailed hawk feathers.
In stock Price: $1,200 Buy now
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Item #03
Bowl Stem Front view
The above pipe is 25 inches long overall. The "T" bowl is 2.5 inches high by 5 inches long and is inlaid with silver in the traditional "four winds" style, representing the four directions. The ash stem features a hand-burned spiral design. This is a medium-sized pipe designed for personal use.
In stock Price: $1,300 Buy now
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Item #04
Bowl Stem Front view
This pipe was not made by us; it is an older pipe from our collection. It is previously used (smoked) and is of unknown age. The overall length is 30 inches; the Catlinite bowl is 2.5 inches high by 6 inches long and is inlaid with probably tin or lead. The stem is made of hardwood, possibly maple, and is decorated with buckskin fringe and loom-beaded strips and is hung with hand-painted imitation eagle feathers. The quality is not as good as our pipes, but it is still a very nice piece.
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