Posted 10 years ago
wgallagher
(1 item)
Purchased this 25+ years ago with other vintage and antique items from an older woman with other Native American pieces in the Raleigh, NC area. We research this periodically but to date have been unable to identify. I have been calling it a six hole pipe but this may not be accurate. Measurements are approximately 3" tall, 4" wide from hole on one side to hole on the other side, and the opening at the top is 2 and 1/4" wide. There are six (6) openings around the center of the pipe that have a hole opening through each to the center bowl. There are three (3) pointed legs on the bottom that it stands on. The design on this piece reminds me of a sun burst or sun rays. Thanks for any information you may have to shed light on this items identity.
Welcome to Cyber-Asylum. lol. If this is your 1st item, I can't wait to see what follows! Do they get harder or easier?
This is a type of Cherokee pottery that is a pipe. I have a similar one made by a member of the Big Meat family of Cherokee potters. Traditionally the story goes that it was used in Councils with 7 holes for 7 pipe stems, each stem for 1 of the 7 clans. When a decision was arrived at all seven clan representatives would smoke the pipe together to signal agreement. The actual pipes I imagine would be carved from stone, the pottery ones more for decoration.