Pre-Columbian, West Mexico, probably Michoacan region, Tarascan culture, ca. 500 to 1500 CE. A remarkable assemblage of 10 hand-built terracotta smoking pipes, each distinct in form and decoration, presented together in a modern display case. These pipes feature a variety of motifs - spiral and zigzag painted bands, geometric registers of punctate and incised patterns, and figural adornments such as stylized animal heads or applique nodes along the stems. Red and cream slip decoration remains visible on many examples, offering a vivid glimpse into their original appearance. Such pipes would have been used to smoke various plant materials, most notably tobacco - a plant central to Mesoamerican ritual and daily life. Size of case: 24.5" L x 4" W x 20.5" H (62.2 cm x 10.2 cm x 52.1 cm); largest pipe: 6.5" L x 1.3" W (16.5 cm x 3.3 cm)
Provenance: private Burbank, Illinois, USA collection via inheritance 2024, acquired between 1970s to 2000s
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#196595
Condition
Mounted in modern acrylic display case. Not examined outside of display case. Several are repaired from multiple pieces with visible break lines and fissures. Glued to the mounting cloth with some glue visible around their feet and supported by nails.