Description
This Great Pipe is a Beaver effigy with its head turned, facing away from the smoker. The animals fur is heavily textured not smooth which suggests carving with an iron tool. Also, there appears to be little to no handling wear. These features suggest the pipe is carved more recently.
The eye sockets would have historically been filled with fresh water pearls or mussel shell beads.
The pipe is dark-green and red steatite schist whose source may have been Eastern Tennessee. It was purchased from an estate in North-Western Tennessee.
Earlier culture’s, Adena / Hopewell great pipes are almost always smooth bird effigies facing the smoker.
Details
Collection #6064