Xhosa - Mfengu - Pondo  Pipe Collection

South Africa

Duggan-Cronin - THE CISKEI AND SOUTHERN TRANSKEI TRIBES

Hemp (Cannabis) was being smoked in southern Africa prior to van Riebeeck's 1652 arrival in the Cape. The Hottentots called it Dagga. It is assumed it arrived to the region from Asia through Arab east coast trade. Tobacco was introduced to Africa from the Americas by the Portuguese between the 15th and 16th centuries. It became wide spread in the Transkei or Eastern Cape, due to early penetration by Europeans into their country. Hemp was suppressed while at the same time tobacco and beads were highly traded. From this contact and trade, variations of all sorts of pipes emerged.

Duggan-Cronin - THE CISKEI AND SOUTHERN TRANSKEI TRIBES

A pipe in hand was an important to a native in the early 20th century Eastern Cape region as was clothing. Pipe fashion developed and changed as rapidly as beaded attire. The longest pipes were generally smoked by women and the shorter by men. It is said that long stem pipes were use to keep the smoke away from babies strung onto their mothers backs.

O

Galerie Ezakwantu's 12 early collected pipes from the eastern cape are sold as a collection. Pipes were commonly called ingawa and this group was smoked by the Mfengu, Pondo, Thembu and Xhosa peoples. The youngest, a rare stand up fully beaded dagga pipe, dates to the 1950's or 60's, ex collection Bruno Walters. The oldest dates to the late 19th century. 

Ivy Albums - Lynn Accutt - Circa 1900 - Woman lighting beaded pipe from flint.

Bowls of early collected examples were carved extremely thin, often as thin as the inner tin or iron container. This craftsmanship is unique to the Eastern Cape.

Click  thumbs to view larger images of each pipe. 

The collection has been professionally mounted for display.

This image of pipe smokers was taken at Uncle Van Vasco da Gama van Blommenstein

shop between 1904 1905, at Mbiza in the former Transkei.

*

Kapsik Pipe - Cameroun

.

 

This  old and well used pipe was purchased at auction in the UK. it most likely dates to the 19th century.

 

*