Thoughts on this Catlinite pipe?

[Jeff in SD]

This pipe was discovered approximately 100 years ago by my great grandfather who was homesteading on the Missouri River near present day Washburn North Dakota. I suspect the pipe has Hidatsa, Arikara or Mandan origins as it was located very near the Knife River Three Villages site where Lewis and Clark established Fort Mandan in the winter of 1804-05. The area is known to have been inhabited as early as 1600 A.D.

My questions would be as to what anybody

might be able to offer about the pipe based on the details of it. Is there anyway to age this? What do the symbols carved mean? I’ve often wondered, does the unusual curved shape of the bowl denote an Anglo influence?

Any thoughts anyone has on the matter would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, JH

 

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[newnan man]

It is an awesome pipe for sure! Someone will give you some info soon.

 

[joshuaream]

It looks like a great old pipe, those carvings were likely originally filled with lead/pewter. The stem hole looks to be of an earlier style, but it's pretty ornamental. I'd guess 1850-1870, but made for Native use vs a trade item. Really nice pipe.

It's obviously been used, but it might not have been finished with the inlays. (Or it might have been in a fire, or perhaps the inlays were removed?) I've heard of people using the home lead based paint tests to check for lead residue in pipes.)

 

[ToddsPoint]

That's a real nice historic era pipe. A treasure for sure. Gary

 

[Garscale]

I know very little about pipes but that one is elaborate. Neat that weapons are carved into it. I think I see a grooved axe, and arrow head, maybe a spud, and several atlatls. Love it.

 

[uniface]

What a superb item !!!!

 

[Jeff in SD]

Pictures make it hard to tell but I don’t believe this was ever inlaid with lead. Looks to me like they may have tried rubbing in some kind of tar like goo to add contrast to the etchings. Maybe some kind of boiled down plant matter? Just using whatever material was at hand to make the carvings pop a little visually. I do like the polished patina on the stem wrap mounting hole bumped out and drilled at the base of the pipe. Can just about see the users thumb unconsciously
buffing the stone as they handled the pipe, passed it around, talked the night away.

 

[joshuaream]

For reference here is one that was likely found pretty close to your area.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/n...artifacts/170621-inlaid-lead-mandan-pipe.html

 

[Trezurehunter]

That is a great looking piece.

 

[Jeff in SD]

Thanks for showing that piece! Sounds like just the area mine came from. Thought it was interesting that The L pipe pictured here has the same unusual curvature to the bowl as my T pipe. Never seen one to match the style before, usually bowl carved much more straight or cone like. Maybe just the local style? Inlays pretty cool as well.
Thanks again JH.

 

[newnan man]

For reference here is one that was likely found pretty close to your area.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/n...artifacts/170621-inlaid-lead-mandan-pipe.html

Ol Larson is missed!

 

[quito]

Hey neighbor!
That is one superb piece!!
I must say, you were very fortunate to acquire that.
What part of SD are you in?
I’m near Sioux Falls.

 

[smallfoot]

Fantastic piece!

 

[Jeff in SD]

Thanks Quito. Sioux Falls as well. East side. Small world huh?

 

[quito]

Thanks Quito. Sioux Falls as well. East side. Small world huh?

it sure is, especially in South Dakota.
I am just north of Brandon. I have a lot of things I’ve found locally.
If you ever want to see some stuff, I’d sure like to see that pipe. Maybe we can meet up!

 

[Darewsta]

Beautiful Piece! ....I want one!
I am not learned in these markings or for their era and location.
If I had to make an uneducated guess this is what it would be;

The Woman
The Spear
The Arrow
The Tomahawk
And The Afterlife....all the things that would seem to be symbols of importance to a full life.

It is said that many believe that the smoke from a pipe or a sensor is symbolic of prayers ascending to the ancestors or God.