Fox Effigy – Hopewell Pipe – Sullivan County, IN

Fox Effigy – Hopewell Pipe – Sullivan County, IN

A rare fox effigy pipe made of red pipestone by a Native American from the Hopewell Culture that features a carved fox that faces the smoker. When in use, the person smoking would look directly into the eyes of the fox, 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 fox effigy with a hollow bowl that opens out of the fox’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 fox looking over a captured bird. Excellent condition with great surface patina. 2 ½” x 4”

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)