ONE OF A KIND: The Floyd Stewart Frog/Human Effigy Pipe

Figure 1 - Sandstone frog/human effigy pipe, profile view showing abrading grooves. Photos by the author.

Every so often a strangely configured artifact is found that appears to defy interpretation. That is the situation in the case of the subject effigy pipe. In profile the effigy impersonation is a recognizable sculpture of a frog in the round. But it also has one additional feature that is out of place, making it a one of a kind piece among similarly configured effigies. The out of place feature is a human-like face which is carved in relief at the rear of the pipe (Figure 3). This sculpture will be examined further in this article as will its relationship to the frog carving and the pipe’s intended applications.

Figure 2 - Front/side view showing facial features and appendages.

The prehistoric Mississippians crafted a relatively large number of pipes in effigy form. It has been determined by researchers and ethnographers that most of the effigy depictions represented animals with special non-human qualities believed to help sustain native/human populations. The Mississippians believed animals, birds and amphibians had defined roles which impacted the welfare of humans. Frogs, according to Mississippian beliefs, originated in the so-called lower world, or water world, beneath the earth’s surface. Inhabitants of this lower world had to be respected and accommodated because this is where evil spirits lived. These spirits were perceived as a continuing threat to man.

Pipe smoking was felt to be the means to demonstrate an affinity with and pacify evil spirits. Pleadings and devotions could be successfully transmitted using the symbolic frog as an intermediary. A tobacco-based smoking mixture with intoxicating qualities was used to produce the necessary hallucinogenic trance to process the devotions. As stated, the frog effigy was the key to producing successful entreaties. Most Mississippian communities used similar pipes in their rituals.

What makes this subject frog effigy pipe unique when compared with similarly configured examples is its additional adornments. The frog sculpture itself is fairly well executed. Its details include protruding eyes, a deeply inset mouth and front legs carved in relief (Figure 2). A series of parallel abrading grooves appear on one side of the pipe (Figure 1). Some effigy pipes of a similar nature have abrading or sharpening grooves usually on the underside of the specimen. The incised markings could be the result of using a convenient surface for sharpening tools or the specially carved grooves might have affirmed a ritual connection with the overall sculpture. As mentioned, the frog representation was likely employed to appease lower world spirits.

Figure 3 - Rear view showing human face carved in relief.

A sculpted human face at the rear of the pipe is the most unusual and perplexing feature on the pipe. As Figure 3 shows, a human face was carved in relief at the bottom of the rear of the pipe, slightly below the stem opening. The human face is depicted within an overall relief motif. Noticeable features are the long, narrow, slightly expanding human nose, mouth and lips, and jutting chin. The pipe’s finder, Floyd Stewart, felt the stem opening may have represented one of the effigy’s eyes. The remaining eye might have been represented by a small circular cavity shown in juxtaposition with the stem hole (hard to see in the photograph). The relationship of the frog effigy to the human depiction is a matter for speculation. Because all the design features appear to be inter-connected, the combined frog/human symbolism may have been of considerable influence during smoking events.

The ritual activities involving the frog image have been discussed as well as the possible reasons for the grooves carved on the side of the pipe. The human depiction may be an ancestor, a legendary leader, the image of a ritual leader/shaman or those present at the smoking event. A deliberate effort was likely made to involve the human image in certain ritual activities.The impersonation might have been sculpted to establish a strong human connection or bond with certain under world spirits being witnessed at the event. The fact that the human carving faces the smoker is significant. It would appear the human carving was placed so it would directly interface with the process of inhaling and exhaling smoke, perhaps symbolically providing additional support for the smoking mission. The sensuous human representation also would have served to help sanctify smoke-filled pleadings, the frog again serving as the facilitator. Its substantive use may always be a matter of conjecture.

The pictured sandstone frog/human effigy pipe stands as a unique example of prehistoric art created during the Mississippian era between about A.D. 1250 and 1450. It was found by Floyd Stewart in Spencer County, Indiana in 1971 and was pictured with Floyd’s collection in Who’s Who in Indian Relics, Volume 3. It measures 5-1/4” by 2-1/2”.
by D.R. Gehlbach