Tobacco pipe with cubic forms

September 2010

Congo is the country with the most diverse manifestations of tobacco pipes. The piece shown here is a nice example of a wooden pipe with such an unexpected design. The bowl has a perfect geometric shape that we could safely call cubist avant la lettre. The pipe bowl is square and rests on a flat rectangular platform, which has narrowed lines along the sides. Simple lines are carved along the rim of the bowl and stem, sometimes parallel to the main shape, sometimes as hatches at a certain angle. Finally, after a few geometric constrictions such as a cone, ball and cylinder, the stem turns into an iron tube for inhaling the smoker. Despite the unusual shape, this pipe cannot be placed in a certain culture or tribe, in absence of enough specific characteristics. However, it is a beautiful piece with an attractive age and a very well-kept finish.

Amsterdam Pipe Museum APM 20.306

Archive object of month