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Mythological animal

The prototype of the tobacco pipe does not consist of a bowl and stem that meet with an angle, but has a tubular shape. From the mouthpiece to the bowl the pipe becomes wider and ends with a bowl as container for the tobacco. The tubular shape is popular over centuries, also when the common bowl-stem type of pipe is introduced.

From Ecuador several of these tubular pipes are known, that have been decorated in a very unusual but beautiful way. Especially the people of the Jama-Coaque culture in the region of Manabi have developed a particular skill in decorating. The invention of the bowl-stem type of pipe did not prevail among these people, there was mainly an interest to figurate and so hide the tube shape. Some of the results show true sculptures that fully hide the original straight pipe tube.

The pipe on this page is a nice example of the figuration done by the Jama-Coaque. The simple tube is completely hidden in a reclining mythological animal that represents a wolf or a lion like creature. The technique in which the pipe is made, is quite remarkable. The basic part of the pipe is moulded by hand, the tail of the animal being the mouthpiece, the four feet on the side of it, also shaped by hand. Thereafter with the aid of a simple mould the mask-shaped head is applied. Finally, details such as ear hangers and a tongue are added with separate pieces of clay.

The result is excellent, the animal reclining in a defensive pose, the head showing a arch shaped geometrical framing. The triangular tongue and the comma shaped earrings make it perfect. Characteristic for the tubular pipe is the bowl being on the front of the pipe, not in the back of the animal, as usual. The circular opening is considered as a disturbing element and is here partly hidden by the tongue of the animal. After backing the pipe, possibly the details have been polychrome, the result being colourful.

These items from the Jama-Coaque culture start at about 550 before Christ. This pipe will date from the fifth or fourth century. In the collection of the Pijpenkabinet in Amsterdam a second example of such a pipe can be found. An illustration is here shown. Also here the tubular shape is embellished with a figural decoration. The funnel shaped bowl here is a part of a standing woman with large head decoration and earrings in disk shape. Round the neck we can see woollen fabrics. Her hands are placed on her knees. Certainly, the bowl is here positioned on a for a woman meaningful place.

Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 13.513