Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Pipe Bowl
Not on view
This compact, skillfully carved sculpture of a running bison is also a functional pipe. Represented at a full gallop and in midair, the animal is celebrated for its physical power and speed. The smooth expanse of its body contrasts with the textured areas of shaggy mane and tail. Among Plains peoples, pipe bowls became the most common yet varied sculptural form, and the buffalo, of central importance in Plains culture, often served as subject matter.
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