Featured Granite figure??

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by Tsamp08, Aug 19, 2022.

  1. Tsamp08

    Tsamp08 New Member

    I have had this for quite some time. Never really known what it was. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Appears to be made of granite. 15”tall and weighs 5 lbs 070D0E94-23A3-4A1C-9816-3B379FD2F473.jpeg B207A648-2CE7-4913-8467-53254AE04CAC.jpeg D8D977DB-7786-453F-A1FA-23394AE8249B.jpeg
     
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  2. LauraGarnet02

    LauraGarnet02 Well-Known Member

    Judging by the last picture it looks like it should be attached to a handle. It's intriguing and interesting.
    I'm going to call for @Taupou and @komokwa .
     
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  3. smallaxe

    smallaxe Well-Known Member

    It doesn't appear there is, but is there a connected hole at either end...i.e. is it a pipe?
     
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  4. Boland

    Boland Well-Known Member

  5. LauraGarnet02

    LauraGarnet02 Well-Known Member

    It's 15 inches tall and weighs 5 pounds.
     
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  6. techbiker

    techbiker Well-Known Member

    OP, your figure honestly looks like it could have been some sort of weapon? If as Laura suggests the hole fits a wood shaft, it could have been used as a kind of "war hammer". I certainly wouldn't have wanted to face someone wielding it!

    War hammer - Wikipedia

    Imagined getting bludgeoned by a small stone mammal? Gnarly!
     
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  7. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    the legs would bust on the 1st strike...the beak on the 2nd..
     
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  8. techbiker

    techbiker Well-Known Member

    Perhaps it's a ceremonial war hammer? I'd still be intimidated!
     
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  9. Tsamp08

    Tsamp08 New Member

    Yes there is a small hole at the end. I forgot to include that picture. It is approx the diameter of a pencil.
     
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  10. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    between the legs ???
    ya, that would have been helpful to know , right out of the gate !!!!!!!:meh:
     
  11. Gus Tuason

    Gus Tuason Well-Known Member

    Rather than granite it looks to be (?) steatite (pipestone) which is soft and easily carved. It was used extensively by the Indians in the U.S.
     
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  12. smallaxe

    smallaxe Well-Known Member

    There's your answer. It's a pipe. Add the photo of that for our viewing pleasure.
     
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  13. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

    I have one very similar. It’s a “bird stone” pipe. I also have a big, heavy one. I believe it’s a reproduction of something similar to what was probably discovered on some Midwest mound cultures site. Mine is done pretty well but I assume it’s not NA carved. Then again it could be but it’s not signed. I’ll see if I can find mine. It should have some value even if it’s not antique or NA made.
     
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  14. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

    Ah yeh, I saw Bolands link and he hit the nail on the head I think. Here is mine. It’s also a heavy, hard stone. Unlikely what NA’s would use for a pipe. They used Catlinite a lot in the central USA. Guessing whomever made these big ones used a hard stone to make them seem like more substantial “relics” or something like that. BBE68D1F-DF32-4583-B7D9-CEC6F0202551.jpeg D8442530-465F-408C-BB90-E7229EA060E0.jpeg 417A76DB-13BE-4637-AFDE-C1FEBE2DD6B2.jpeg
     
  15. LauraGarnet02

    LauraGarnet02 Well-Known Member

    Well bowl me over! I would never have thought a smoking pipe could be so huge and heavy.

    I suppose there is supposed to be some kind of a carved bowl with a tube that fits into the pencil diameter hole (wherever that may be..?) @Tsamp08 , I hope you will post the picture showing the hole.:watching:
     
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  16. Tsamp08

    Tsamp08 New Member

     

    Attached Files:

  17. LauraGarnet02

    LauraGarnet02 Well-Known Member

    Heehee... Does this mean the stem of the pipe goes between the legs? I thought komo was just joking. I was expecting the hole would be on top of the head.

    So this means the large hole on the back is the bowl for loading the tobacco..?

    I am so confused. I just did an image search for carved stone effigy smoking pipes trying to find one with all the parts. I don't find any. I can't visualize how this would work. :confused:
     
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  18. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

    I’m pretty sure the functional pipes that were actually used were much smaller and lighter. I think these are relatively modern fantasy pieces inspired by real artifacts. I could be wrong but I’ve never seen a “real” one on this scale. Then again it was a communal activity meant to be passed around and they may have had weak wild tobacco that wasn’t trimmed in as refined a manner as now. So maybe some cultures would want a huge bowl. Pretty sure something like this wasn’t actually used though. Maybe someone more knowledgeable will think differently.
     
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  19. J Dagger

    J Dagger Well-Known Member

    Yeh you’re correct on how it would work. Pipe bowl on top, on mine pipe stem basically where the b-hole would be. Not to be crude but since you’re asking.
     
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  20. Tsamp08

    Tsamp08 New Member

    So interesting!! Thanks everyone for all of the information!!
     
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