Osage Catlinite Pipe Bowl

The Osage Catlinite Pipe Bowl, made of catlinite, would not have been used on a day to day basis but for ceremonial usage. It was believed that the smoke would carry prayers to the creator or other powerful spirits. When in large groups it was said to have established a spirit of agreeableness and participation among the group. There were pipes for everything from war to peace, this is why the Europeans coined the pipe bowls as “peace pipes.”  

The process of making the pipe bowl included some tools. In my research I have found that flint, knives, and even heat was used in some cases. It is important to note that this pipe was estimated to have been made in the early 18th century leading to the belief that some tools would have been acquired through trade with the Europeans. The main component of the pipe bowl as mentioned earlier is catlinite which is a mudstone. This was chosen because the lack of quartz made it easier to work with. Most likely, catlinite would have been harvested from Minnesota as there is a large quarry.  

The work of Native American pipe carvers takes many forms. This specific pipe is what is called an elbow pipe, given the L shape, which was commonly used by the Indians of the plains. The Indians that were affiliated with the plains would have been the Siouan tribes. A separate stem would have been used along with the pipe bowl to smoke. Tobacco was smoked from the pipes and at times additives would be added in. The additives used by the Indians in the plains would have consisted of plants such as dogwood, bearberry, willow, leadplant, and rose bushes in addition to leaves and small stems.  

As we can see use of these pipe bowls were very sacred to the Indians way of living. They are not commonly found because they were usually buried with the dead. It was said the while making the pipe bowl you would pray over it because it would be with you through your life and your life experiences. They have been used to solve issues, bring peace, and collaboration among people

Credit: Brittney Easley