Cleveland Museum of Art

Pipe bowl

Date

early to mid-1900s

Medium

Wood, iron, and copper alloy

Culture

Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Luluwa or Luntu maker

Department

African Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

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 often imaginative shapes. The cavity for the tobacco is positioned in the belly of a figure who holds himself up with bent arms on the pipe.

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