Context (References)
Cook, P. A. W., 1931. Social organisation and ceremonial institutions of the Bomvana. Cape Town: Juta.

Event Date 1931
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (References)
Shaw, E. M., 1938. Native Pipes and Smoking in South Africa. Annals of the South African Museum 24: 277-302.
Event Date 1938
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (Field collection)
This pipe was purchased from African Crafts, Shop 3, Lock Street Goal, Fleet Street, East London on 08/04/2000 [Proprietor: Thelma Pape]

These objects were collected by Julia Tanner while undertaking fieldwork in South Africa from March-May 2000. The fieldwork was financed by MAA's Crowther-Beynon Fund, in order to research and update MAA's South African collections.




Event Date 8/4/2000
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (Production / use)
This style of pipe is used by young married women, who smoke in company. The longer the pipe the greater the owner's prestige. An extension is sometimes added to the pipe, as in the example above. Tobacco is smoked, but it can also be rolled and cut into pieces for chewing.
Event Date 2001
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (Other)
The Bomvana are a relatively small group of heterogenous South Nguni people of the Transkei area, traditionally occupying land between the Bashee and Umtata rivers. They are divided into two groups with practically identical customs: 1) the Bomvana proper of the Elliotdale district, and 2) the Tshezis of the Mqanduli district.
Event Date 2001
Author: Lucie Carreau

Context (CMS Context)
This pipe was purchased from African Crafts, Shop 3, Lock Street Goal, Fleet Street, East London on 08/04/2000. The proprietor, Thelma Pape, stated that the pipe was made in Bomvana territory in Elliotdale, near Umtata, Transkei. Pipes like this are brought to the shop for trading, but they are also made for personal use. They are only traded in East London and mainly to Thelma Pape of African Crafts, or to the trading stations.

These objects were collected by Julia Tanner while undertaking fieldwork in South Africa from March-May 2000. The fieldwork was financed by UCMAA’s Crowther-Beynon Fund, in order to research and update UCMAA’s South African collections.




Event Date 5/5/2012
Author: maa

Description (CMS Description)
A: Carved wooden pipe with narrow, cylindrical tin-lined bowl. A small foot is carved at the base of the bowl. A short stem rises slighty from the horizontal. The stem is fluted and the end is flat. The stem is decorated with a small section of inset coloured bands comprising 4 white, 2 black and 1 green.
B: A short, pale wooden smoking stick with a rough surface. Pointed at one end for insertion into end of pipe stem.
Event Date 5/5/2012
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
A wooden pipe [A] and a pale wooden smoking stick with a pointed at one end for insertion into end of pipe stem. The pipe has a flared lip at the end of the stem and a cylindrical bowl, lined with tin and a small projection at the bottom. The stem is painted with white, black and green stripes just below the lip.
Event Date 12/1/2023
Author: Emily Shorter