Pipe

Object Details

Undetermined artist

Label Text

The collector of this pipe, Emil Gorlia, served as a circuit court judge and later as a senior official of the Congo administration before finally becoming secretary general of the Ministry of Colonies. Between 1905 and 1927 he made six extended trips through southern Congo, particularly present-day Shaba province. The style of this pipe suggests that it may have been made by Yela peoples, part of the Mongo cluster of peoples.

In some regions of central Africa, both men and women smoke locally grown tobacco using hand-crafted pipes. In much of Africa, tobacco is often given as a gesture of hospitality and to cement agreements.

Description

Two-piece pipe with incised decorations, probably pyro-engraved, around the bowl and stem. The detachable bowl is carved from a single piece of wood in an openwork design that defines the round upper section, the cylindrical middle section, and the rectangular lower section of the bowl. A small hole in the center of the bowl is used for drawing the tobacco. Incised linear patterns ornament the flared lip, sides and lower portion of the bowl. The stem is inserted into a wide hole at the base of the bowl. It is embellished with dark bands of incised linear and leaf patterns that contrast with lighter, undecorated, but more deeply carved sections of the wood stem.

Provenance

Emil E.O. Gorlia, Belgian Congo, 1905-1927

Sanford M. Harris, Oak Harbor, Washington, before 1977 to 1999

Content Statement

As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.

Image Requests

High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/

Credit Line

Gift of S. M. Harris

Late 19th-early 20th century

Object number

99-25-2

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Sculpture

Medium

Wood

Dimensions

H x W x D: 8.4 x 6.4 x 54.8 cm (3 5/16 x 2 1/2 x 21 9/16 in.)

Geography

Democratic Republic of the Congo

See more items in

National Museum of African Art Collection

National Museum of African Art

Topic

Tobacco

male

Record ID

nmafa_99-25-2

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7be4bc02d-e097-452f-bba3-d28d948f6af0