Pipe bowl
Unknown Artist
early to mid-1900s
Medium
Wood, iron, and copper alloy
Dimensions
6 × 7.4 × 24 cm
Classification
Implements
Department
African Art
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
Jo Hershey Selden Fund
Accession Number
2008.152
About this artwork
Tobacco smoking had important social connotations in Central Africa, denoting age, status, and gender. Perhaps the enlarged hand expressed physical and spiritual powers and indicates that this work belonged to a chief. Figuratively carved pipes and snuff mortars constitute important genres of Luluwa decorative arts. As personal objects reflecting the prominence and success of their male and sometimes female owners, they are usually the creative work of virtuoso artists and take a variety of ofte...