AKAN, GHANA

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Tobacco pipes in West Africa are an incredibly diverse art form, encompassing a huge variety of visual themes, techniques, media, and morphology. Their intriguing and sometimes playful forms suggest that the artists who so skillfully crafted them often took a great deal of pleasure in their planning and execution. While tobacco traditionally had significant ceremonial uses, the social and relaxed spirit of smoking seems to influence the design of many pipes, opening the way for unique ideas.

This charming, finely carved pipe is a ready example. Here a crested bird and serpent grapple vigorously for possession of a berry or egg. While the scene and the eager attitude of the contestants suggest a humorous approach, the carving itself is cleverly and masterfully handled, with careful openwork and delicate patterning over the bird’s wings. The functional portion of the pipe is integrated into the body of the bird, with the bowl positioned subtly between its raised wings, partially concealing it. The iconography of this pipe is rare, with just a handful of similar examples known.

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