Plains Elbow Stone Pipe bowl

Plains Indian

19th Century | Stone | Item 2044

I do not know what to call this type of stone, but it certainly is beautiful, showing much variations within the strata from beige to deep red. Perhaps it’s a type of marble? There are clear signs that this pipe was used with blacking on the outer surfaces and on the inside. The pipe end that receives the stem has an old hide gasket laying inside to allow for a snug fit of the stem. This is a highly unusual pipe bowl and I’ve never seen one like it. The simple, elbow shape is characteristic of an earlier pipe bowl.