Pipe Bowl

ca. 1870

Not on view

Returned to lender

This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.

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.

Artwork Details

Overview

Exhibition History

Title: Pipe Bowl
Date: ca. 1870
Geography: United States, North or South Dakota
Culture: Lakota (Teton Sioux)
Medium: Catlinite (red pipestone)
Dimensions: Length: 4 1/4 in. (10.8 cm)
Width: 2 3/8 in. (6 cm)
Classification: Stone-Implements
Credit Line: Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis (1953.131.0005)
Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing