Pipe
Unknown Artist
11th–12th century(?)
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
L. 8 in. (20.3 cm)
Classification
Metalwork
Culture
Nepal (Kathmandu Valley)
Department
Asian Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Gift of Samuel Eilenberg, 1987
Accession Number
1987.142.333a, b
Art Historical Context
This elegant silver pipe, hailing from Nepal's Kathmandu Valley and attributed to the 11th–12th century, offers a glimpse into the region's masterful metalworking traditions. Measuring 8 inches (20.3 cm) in length, it the exquisite craftsmanship of Newar artisans, who were renowned for their skill in shaping precious metals into functional yet ornate objects. Silver, a material symbolizing purity and status, was often reserved for items of daily or ritual use among the valley's Buddhist and Hindu communities. In the medieval Kathmandu Valley—a vibrant hub of trade, religion, and art—this pipe...