Civil War-Era White Clay Figural Pipe Depicting a Slave

Civil War-Era White Clay Figural Pipe Depicting a Slave - Inventory Number: CAM 616

Circa 1860s. A finely detailed white clay figural pipe depicting the bust of an African American, measuring approximately 2.75” x 2” x 1.25”. Likely of English manufacture, as suggested by the dignified rendering of the subject, a marked contrast to the often grotesque caricatures seen in contemporary American examples.

Pipes of this style, featuring outsized bowls, were typically intended for display rather than functional use, serving as statements of status among slaveholders.

The piece remains in excellent overall condition. A rare and significant artifact reflecting the social and cultural complexities of the Civil War era.

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Inventory Number: CAM 616