West African Cameroon Grasslands tobacco pipe
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
late 19th to mid-20th century CE
This ornate tobacco pipe originates from the Grasslands region of Cameroon, West Africa, attributed to the Bamum or Bamileke people. Dating from the late 19th to mid-20th century, the pipe is a complex composite construction featuring a pottery bowl, a carved wooden stem, and a slender metal mouthpiece.
The clay bowl is expertly molded into the form of a human face, complete with a distinctive flared headdress. The wooden stem is deeply etched with intricate abstract motifs and fits securely into the ceramic bowl. The object displays a rich, dark patina resulting from traditional use. Serving as both functional smoking implements and important status symbols, these pipes were used by commoners, royalty, and rulers for ceremonial purposes and daily social activities.
The pipe measures approximately 17 inches in length, 2 inches in width, and 5 inches in height. It exhibits signs of its age, including a stable pressure fissure in the wood and remnant mineral deposits throughout the surface.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Materials
- pottery, wood, metal
- Dimensions
- 17" L x 2" W x 5" H
Design
- Bowl
- molded clay face with flared headdress
- Stem
- carved wood with abstract motifs
Identification
- Source note
- Described from a single auction-house listing published on Invaluable (reproduced with Invaluable's permission). Details apply to that one example; other examples of the type may differ, and the listing is supplementary evidence, not authentication.
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.