Pair of Xhosa Wooden Pipes with Iron-Lined Bowls

Lot 72e

About Seller

686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States

Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more

Bid Increments

Price	Bid Increment
$0	$25
$300	$50
$1,000	$100
$2,000	$250
$5,000	$500
$10,000	$1,000
$20,000	$2,500
$50,000	$5,000
$100,000	$10,000
$200,000	$20,000

About Auction

Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM by Artemis Fine Arts

Live

Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa F...

By Artemis Fine Arts

Aug 22, 2025

Set Reminder 2025-08-22 10:00:00 2025-08-22 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/indigenous-art---ralph-t-coe-center-santa-fe-nm-20324 Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com

View Full Catalog (452)

Lot Description

Southern Africa, South Africa, Zulu people, ca. 1900 CE. A pair of early 20th century Xhosa wooden tobacco pipes, each carved with a tall cylindrical bowl, a rounded base with a small heel, and a straight stem that flares into a disc-shaped mouth cuff. The interiors of the bowls are clad in sheet iron to withstand the heat of repeated use, a practical feature characteristic of Xhosa pipe-making traditions. Smooth and undecorated, these pipes display the understated elegance of functional craftsmanship, their surfaces enriched with a warm patina from years of handling and smoking. Within Xhosa society, pipe smoking was both a personal pleasure and a social act, often shared in communal settings as an expression of hospitality, respect, and connection. Locally made pipes ranged from modest working pieces like these to highly ornamented prestige objects, and their design reflected a balance of utility and cultural identity. Size of larger: 15.9" L x 1" W x 7" H (40.4 cm x 2.5 cm x 17.8 cm)

By the early 20th century, such pipes remained an integral part of daily life while also attracting the interest of travelers and collectors, becoming valued as cultural keepsakes. With their iron-lined bowls and graceful, elongated stems, this pair retains the essential form and spirit of the traditional Xhosa pipe, embodying both practical ingenuity and enduring heritage.

Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired in 2010 via descent; ex-private collection of Ralph T. Coe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, received as a gift in February 1997; ex-Taylor "Tad" A. Dale, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#196353

Condition

Iron linings each have some fissures and chips. Both have light surface wear, but are otherwise intact and excellent with nice patina to wood.
Shipping Info
- All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Fine Arts will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please ask before bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
Buyer's Premium
- 28.50 %