SOLD – Eagle Effigy – Hopewell Pipe – Greene County, IL

SOLD – Eagle Effigy – Hopewell Pipe – Greene County, IL

A rare eagle effigy pipe made of red pipestone by a Native American from the Hopewell Culture that features a carved eagle that faces the smoker. When in use, the person smoking would look directly into the eyes of the eagle, 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, is drilled horizontally to the center for smoking. This effigy pipe bowl is carved into an incredibly realistic eagle with a hollow bowl that opens out of the eagles back and was sculpted from red pipestone using flint blades. This master Indigenous artisans applied engravings to represent the feather and claws of this eagle. Repair to platform otherwise in excellent condition with great surface patina. 3 ¼ ” x 4 ½ ”\

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

Provenance:

Dr. Sid Denny Collection, Edwardsville, IL.;

Floyd Ritter, Collinsville, IL;

Gordon Barlow, Swoope, VA (1977)