Sinew sewn
1880s
Length with fringe 42"
Provenance: Private collection, Montana
For the Lakota (Sioux) pipe bags are “containers for the heart”, holders of sacred pipes and tobacco that symbolically contain the very heart of the people. Pipes are central instruments to Plains societies spiritually and socially, and smoking pipes draws the universe together to activate prayers, thoughts, and blessings. Pipe bags are imbued with the power of the materials they hold, and are treated with respect and reverence as sacred objects. Due to their significance, pipe bags are held in the left hand, closer to the heart, rather than tied to the body, and they are stored in places of honor. Their decoration reflects distinctive cultural artistic traditions, and each side features entirely different designs.
Sinew sewn
1880s
Length with fringe 42"
Provenance: Private collection, Montana
For the Lakota (Sioux) pipe bags are “containers for the heart”, holders of sacred pipes and tobacco that symbolically contain the very heart of the people. Pipes are central instruments to Plains societies spiritually and socially, and smoking pipes draws the universe together to activate prayers, thoughts, and blessings. Pipe bags are imbued with the power of the materials they hold, and are treated with respect and reverence as sacred objects. Due to their significance, pipe bags are held in the left hand, closer to the heart, rather than tied to the body, and they are stored in places of honor. Their decoration reflects distinctive cultural artistic traditions, and each side features entirely different designs.
