Calumet Pipe With Quilwork Decoration

Sioux (Eastern Dakota / Santee or Sisseton)
Northern Great Plains
Circa 1870–1890

Carved wood, dyed porcupine quills (quillwork), leather, catlinite.
Provenance: former Bernard Souteyrand collection.

Description

Large ceremonial calumet pipe carved from a single, carefully shaped piece of wood. Its flat, elongated, and slightly tapered profile is enlivened by two long, openwork longitudinal openings and a series of regularly spaced perforations, attesting to particularly elaborate carving.

The decorated section features a remarkable covering of porcupine quills (quillwork). Macroscopic observations clearly reveal the natural structure of the quills: each element exhibits the fine longitudinal and transverse cracks characteristic of aged keratin, confirming the use of genuine porcupine quills that were carefully prepared and then flattened.

The quills, selected for their uniform width, are arranged with remarkable precision to form a continuous surface composed of white, black, and orange-red bands. The uniformity of their placement attests to a very high level of craftsmanship (see macro photo).

The tip of the pipe retains a beautiful tapered silhouette, while the long openwork windows lend the piece an uncommon elegance. The pipe is presented with a T-shaped red catlinite bowl. The main interest of the piece, however, lies in the pipe itself.

Comparative Study

Comparable pipes decorated with quillwork are held in the collections of the British Museum. This pipe stands out for its particularly elaborate openwork design.

Dimensions

Total length: 88 cm
Pipe length: approximately 73 cm
Quillwork-decorated section: approximately 13 cm