Ceremonial Pipe – Wood, Calabash – Luba – Congo

Stylistic well carved wooden pipe from the Luba people of DR Congo.

At its height during the second half of the nineteenth century,  aristocrats surrounded themselves with a wide variety of finely crafted boxes, jars, stools, pipes, musical instruments and weapons. This distinctive tradition of anthropomorphic sculpture developed around 1900. Although such forms predate the colonial presence, European patrons greatly increased the demand for them.
Pipes adorned with such elaborately carved tobacco bowls were the prerogative of the Luba ruling aristocracy. Good condition with a wonderful aged patina. Stand is not included in this lot.