Tobey: a Northern Paiute Stone Pipe Maker in Nevada

Tobey is a name that does not fit the usual brand narratives of the briar world. Behind it is not a factory or a registered stamp, but a Northern Paiute master living at the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony in Nevada: Hilman Tobey. The pipes Tobey makes are not objects produced for commercial smoking but stone-bowled pipes used in prayer and ceremony.

In this respect, this entry describes not pipe collecting but a living link in the tradition of the sacred pipe of Native Americans.

The Maker and How the Craft Is Learned

The pieces made at Tobey's bench are not tied to a single material: alongside stone, he is reported to use hardwoods and various minerals as well. What he produces with them is not new designs but examples that follow the traditional forms of ceremonial pipes. The only information available on how long he has practiced this craft comes from secondary sources pointing to more than thirty years; the same sources also state that he graduated from the Stewart Indian School in Carson City. Neither piece of information has been confirmed by independent archives. Likewise, his participation in the annual Sun Dance (Sundance) ceremonies held in the Pine Ridge area of South Dakota rests solely on the same sources.