The Honor of Being Pipe Carrier
Howard Terpning
Limited Edition Print
Giclée Canvas
31 × 39 in
MasterWork Edition, 75 S/N
Artwork Description
Winner of the Masters of the American WestThomas Moran Memorial Award for Artistic Merit (2016)
To carry a pipe among members of a war party was considered a great honor. These pipes were called black-covered war pipes or black-covered medicine pipes, and were carried by members of all Northern Plains tribes. The pipe itself was encased in a cover made from trade cloth or a trade blanket, and sometimes had an eagle feather attached at each end. This warrior has removed the pipe case from his shoulder and is telling his enemies that he is a formidable foe.