Negro Pipe Bowl / SOLD

Description

Negro Pipe Bowl 

A highly unusual mid-19th-century mold-made clay tobacco pipe featuring a detailed figural bowl in the form of an African American male head, complete with tightly curled hair, expressive facial features, and a naturalistic profile. The stem is a tapered wooden example inserted into the original clay ferrule, which shows the expected wear and firing imperfections typical of Civil War–era pipe manufacture. 

Figural pipes of this type were produced in both the United States and Europe from the 1840s through the 1870s, and were commonly carried by soldiers, camp followers, and civilians during the Civil War period. Pipes depicting African American subjects—sometimes referred to historically as “Negro head pipes”—were widely used, though intact examples are now relatively scarce due to their fragile construction and the hard service they saw in field use. 

This example shows a well-executed portrait head, with strong relief modeling, clear facial expression, and surviving detail despite minor edge loss to the upper rim of the bowl. The clay exhibits a light, chalky patina from age. 

A compelling piece of personal material culture representing both period smoking habits and the complex racial iconography of the Civil War era. Excellent display presence and a desirable form for collectors of Civil War camp artifacts, dug relics, and 19th-century pipes. 

Inventory Number: SCU 072