An Unusual South African , Cape Nguni Treble Bowl Tobacco Pipe
An Unusual South African , Cape Nguni Treble Bowl Tobacco Pipe . Wood and metal
19 th Century
Size : 12 cm long , 4¾ ins long
Traders from Europe first introduced tobacco to South Africa in the 16 th century and within 100 years it was grown , dried , prepared and smoked by nearly all of the black peoples of South Africa .
Carvers in the Eastern Cape modelled the form on the original Dutch and English 17 th century clay tavern pipes . Examples such as this rare treble bowl pipe would have been made as items of prestige . Pipes were signifiers of social status and were proudly displayed either in use or when carried as an important part of traditional tribal dress .
19 th Century
Size : 12 cm long , 4¾ ins long
Traders from Europe first introduced tobacco to South Africa in the 16 th century and within 100 years it was grown , dried , prepared and smoked by nearly all of the black peoples of South Africa .
Carvers in the Eastern Cape modelled the form on the original Dutch and English 17 th century clay tavern pipes . Examples such as this rare treble bowl pipe would have been made as items of prestige . Pipes were signifiers of social status and were proudly displayed either in use or when carried as an important part of traditional tribal dress .
See : Finch & Co catalogue no. 5 ( item 15 ) for a similar pipe with a double bowl
An Unusual South African , Cape Nguni Treble Bowl Tobacco Pipe
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