Bear Effigy – Hopewell Pipe – Sullivan County, IN

Bear Effigy – Hopewell Pipe – Sullivan County, IN

A rare bear effigy pipe made of black pipestone by a Native American from the Hopewell Culture that features a carved bear that faces the smoker. When in use, the person smoking would look directly into the eyes of the bear, creating a direct personal ritual connection.

The Hopewell Culture pipes are meticulously crafted artifacts created by the Indigenous peoples during the Woodland period (circa 200 BC–AD 400). The defining feature of a Hopewell pipe is its flat or slightly curved rectangular base which functions as the stem and is drilled horizontally to the center for smoking. This effigy pipe bowl is carved into an incredibly realistic bear effigy with a hollow bowl that opens out of the bear’s back and was sculpted from red pipestone using flint blades. This master Indigenous artisan applied engravings to represent the face and toes of this bear. (minor chip on the platform- otherwise in excellent condition with great surface patina. 2 ¼” x 4 ¼”

Hopewell Pipes with a collection history (found in Jersey Co., IL) are incredibly rare because so many are now in museum collections.

Provenance: Ben Thompson Collection, Kirkwood, MO.;

Floyd Ritter, Collinsville, IL;

Gordon Barlow, Swoope, VA (1977)