Created by
F. J. Kaldenberg, American, 1869 - 1889
Subject of
Ansdell, Richard, English, 1815 - 1885
Date
1869-1889
Medium
.1ab: sepiolite and plastic;
.2: paint on wood, metal, velvet, and satin
Dimensions
H x W x D (.1ab): 2 5/8 × 7 9/16 × 1 1/2 in. (6.7 × 19.2 × 3.8 cm)
H x W x D (.1a): 2 5/8 × 5 × 1 1/2 in. (6.7 × 12.7 × 3.8 cm)
H x W x D (.1b): 9/16 × 9/16 × 3 1/4 in. (1.4 × 1.4 × 8.3 cm)
H x W x D (.2 closed): 2 × 8 3/4 × 3 1/2 in. (5.1 × 22.2 × 8.9 cm)
H x W x D (.2 open): 1 × 8 3/4 × 6 13/16 in. (2.5 × 22.2 × 17.3 cm)
Description
A carved sepiolite meerschaum pipe (.1a) and stem (.1b) with original case (.2) made by F. J. Kaldenberg. The carved design of the pipe features the same scene and was inspired by Richard Ansdell's painting Hunted Slaves (1861), though the faces of the figures on the pipe are ape-like caricatures. The scene depicts a woman near a tree stump at the end of the pipe who is fleeing dogs. The top of the stump is hollow for packing tobacco. The woman turns her face backward to look at a man who has an axe raised above his head in an attempt to fight off the three (3) dogs. The dogs are positioned at the end of the pipe nearest the stem. A metal cap is placed on this end of the pipe with a black rod protruding from it. The stem (.1b) fits over this rod to attach to the pipe. There is a black cap at this end of the stem with the rest of it being a dark brown stiff material. The stem is turned upward and flattened at the mouth end.
The case (.2) is made from wood painted black and is shaped to fit the outline of the pipe and stem, being bulbous on one side and thin on the other. It has a hinged opening and a metal pressure clasp. One side of the interior is lined in red velvet while the other is lined in red satin. A black stamp reading "F. J. KALDENBERG / MANUFACTURER / NO. 6 ASTOR HOUSE / NEW YORK CITY" inside an oval border is placed at the middle of the bulbous end of the satin-lined interior.
Statement
Objects depicting racist and/or stereotypical imagery or language may be offensive and disturbing, but the NMAAHC aims to include them in the Collection to present and preserve the historical context in which they were created and used. Objects of this type provide an important historical record from which to study and evaluate racism.
Place made
New York City, New York, United States, North and Central America
Collection title
Liljenquist Family Collection
Classification
Slavery and Freedom Objects
Decorative Arts, Craft, and Design
Type
pipes (smoking equipment)
Topic
Art
Design
Resistance
Slavery
U.S. History, 1865-1921
Violence
Credit Line
Collection of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, Gift from the Liljenquist Family Collection
Object number
2016.166.37.1ab-.2
Restrictions & Rights
Public Domain
Proper usage is the responsibility of the user.
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/fd516e0c786-77c3-4b25-8dcb-1e40c94f264d

Cataloging is an ongoing process and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. If you have more information about this object, please contact us at NMAAHCDigiTeam@si.edu

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