Maori Carved Wooden Tobacco Pipe (Paipa)

The pipe is finely carved with a wheku or ancestor figure face that wraps around the front of the pipe bowl. The face has closed eyes and a protruding tongue. Stylised arms and hands are present beneath the face, and there are large spiral patterns on either side of the face.

The wooden part of the shaft is carved with bands of rauponga patterning.

The tobacco bowl has some interior charring. The mouthpiece comprises some sort of unidentified material but which has been bitten through on the lower side by the past owner and so there is now a small hole from usage.

Maori tobacco pipes are in the British Museum collection and are illustrated in Starzecka et al (2010, pl. 85).

The pipe is in fine condition with ample evidence of age and use.