Relics of the American West: 1850-1920
Lot 2184:
Description
This remarkable Plains-style ensemble features a hand-stitched buckskin pipe bag and a ceremonial two-piece pipe. The bag is expertly crafted with traditional quillwork or beadwork accents along the side seams, and a striking geometric panel above the long, twisted fringe. In Plains culture, particularly among the Lakota (Sioux), the pipe bag was a sacred vessel used to carry the chanunpa (holy pipe), representing the connection between the earthly and spiritual realms. Several fringe strands are meticulously adorned with glass trade beads—markers of the vast 19th-century trade networks—and a large blue focal bead. The pipe consists of a T-shaped red catlinite bowl, a stone specifically reserved for ceremonial use due to its soft, workable nature and its origin in the sacred quarries of Pipestone, Minnesota. This bowl is paired with a tapered wooden stem displaying a deep, aged patina. The set appears to be in good vintage condition, showing surface soot and darkening on the buckskin, minor fraying to the fringe, and light wear on the wooden stem consistent with historical ritual use. Bag: H 33″, W 5″, D 1″. Pipe: H 2.5″, W 19.5″, D 1.25″. Please see photos for condition.
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