Producer unknown to us
Calumet with a pipe bag
Americas, North America
1900–1947
Catlinite, wood, carved; leather, tanned, bead work
Eva Lips (ethnologist) acquired this item during her exile in the United States from 1934 to 1947
Purchased by the Museum für Völkerkunde Dresden from Elisabeth Malüg on December 6, 1989
70059
The head of this North American “peace pipe” (Calumet) was made of red claystone (catlinite) from the sacred pipestone quarries in Pipestone, Minnesota. Many communities refer to the quarry in their creation stories. When visiting the quarry, it is customary that all hostilities are left behind. Calumets are traditionally smoked to seal (peace) treaties and agreements.
According to oral history at the museum, the pipe stem may be a replica made by museum technicians in Leipzig. This story has not yet been conclusively verified. It is a known fact, however, that museum employees replicated several original exhibits and drawings for the DEFA (German movie holding) “Eastern Westerns.” Curators of the Leipzig Museum advised the DEFA directors. With ethnohistorically “authentic” props and collaboration with expert advisors, DEFA wanted to set their movies apart from the generalizing Indian stereotypes portrayed in the West German Karl May movies.
Frank Usbeck