A Bamileke Smoking Pipe, "kan" Tobacco pipe, "kan" Bamileke, Cameroon, Cameroon grassland Mit Sockel / with base Copper alloy, wood. H 40 cm. Provenance: - Imelda and Paul (1924-2014) Berger-Frei, Riehen. - Berger-Frei community of heirs, Basel. It is difficult to determine in retrospect exactly when tobacco began to be smoked in West Africa, but it is certain that it reached sub-Saharan Africa very early on, in the first centuries AD, via trade from North Africa. It is also obvious that the pleasurable consumption of tobacco and the smoking of hemp can still be an essential part of ceremonies and rites today, in addition to personal pleasure. Tobacco pipes come in a wide variety of sizes, materials and shapes. As personal possessions of men and women, the various smoking instruments are an outward sign of prestige and wealth. While simple pipes served only the primary purpose of smoking and were more easily accessible, particularly ornate tobacco pipes were the privilege of wealthy notables and rulers. Further reading: Cremer, Wolfgang (2004). Pipes, hemp and tobacco in sub-Saharan Africa. Baum Publications. CHF 200 / 400 Weight in grams: 1629 Condition: The condition of this lot (wear, signs of use, tears, any other detractions and the signs of age, etc. The condition of this lot (wear, tears, possible other impairments and signs of age, if applicable) can be seen in the photos we have uploaded for your documentation. Please feel free to contact Hammer Auctions with any questions regarding this lot ([email protected]). The statements regarding the condition of the items made for the convenience of interested parties are opinions only and should not be treated as statements of fact. Hammer Auctions accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. In the rare event that the item does not match the description in the catalog, Hammer Auctions is here to help. Buyers may return the lot for a full refund provided Hammer Auctions has been notified within 5 days of receipt of the lot.

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African Ethnograhic Art from Gérald & Muriel MINKOFF, Galerie Walu and others Swiss Private Collections.

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Hammer Auktionen