The Faribault Pipe: a Riddle Carved in Pipestone

The Faribault pipe is considered one of the most detailed figurative catlinite carvings in the Minnesota Historical Society's collection. It depicts a man lying on his back with his legs raised in the air: the body, head, and headgear form the bowl, and the legs extend to form the shank leading to the mouthpiece.

It fits neither a known peace pipe pattern nor any recognized ceremonial-pipe mold; who made it, when it was made, and who it depicts remain unresolved to this day.

The Object Itself

The carving is a single piece of stone; it measures 11.5 inches, roughly 29 centimeters, from the elbows to the tip of the mouthpiece. The smoke channel was opened through four separate drilling operations, and the opening left by two short channels starting at the hip is sealed with a gear-shaped stone plug. On the front of the mouthpiece is a geometric design filled with poured lead, within which sit the letters "D.F."

The figure's dress is European-American from head to toe. The boot soles are applied separately, with raised heels; a row of alternating triangles and a downward-pointing feathered arrow are cut into their faces. The short, downturned visor on the headgear matches the pattern used by the US Army between 1821 and 1851. The stitching on the outer seams of the jacket and trousers, in the eyes of some interpreters, recalls the technique of piercing and lacing leather garments, and to others recalls porcupine-quill embroidery; the cuffs, pocket flaps, and short belt at the back, meanwhile, point to a fabric uniform.