North America | USA
Calumet
USA
Large calumet
Santee Sioux
Plains, USA
19th century, before 1860
Pipestem: Carved wood, pigments, leather and quill
Pipebowl: Carved stone (catlinite)
Length: 93 cm (103 cm with the bowl)
Provenance
Ex collection Ted Trotta, Shrub Oak, New York
Ex collection Jim Ritchie, Toledo, Ohio
Ex collection Paul Gray, Old Chatham, New York
Ex collection John W. Painter acquired from the above in 2002
Ex Sotheby’s New York, 18 May 2007, lot 117
Ex collection Trotta Bono Gallery, New York
Ex private collection, France, acquired from the above in 2009
Literature
“American Indian Art Magazine”,
American Indian Art Magazine, issue 27, Summer 2002, inside front cover
A Window On The Past – Volume Two, John W. Painter, 2003, pages 30-31, ill. 87
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Among the Plains Indians, the most sacred object was the calumet pipe. Calumets were used in times of war and times of peace to ensure protection and success.
Smoking was a means of creating harmony with the spiritual elements, with the smoke symbolizing prayer, a gift or a request for assistance from the Great Spirit.
"Before talking of holy things, we prepare ourselves by offerings. One will fill his pipe and hand it to the other who will light it and offer it to the sky and earth. They will smoke together. Then they will be ready to talk."
Mato-Kuwapi (Chased by Bears), a Santee-Yanktoni, Sioux warrior.
Smoking was a means of creating harmony with the spiritual elements, with the smoke symbolizing prayer, a gift or a request for assistance from the Great Spirit.
"Before talking of holy things, we prepare ourselves by offerings. One will fill his pipe and hand it to the other who will light it and offer it to the sky and earth. They will smoke together. Then they will be ready to talk."
Mato-Kuwapi (Chased by Bears), a Santee-Yanktoni, Sioux warrior.
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