Pipestone – Catlinite Canoe (Wisconsin)

Description

This hand crafted vintage pipestone (catlinite) souvenir canoe. This piece is 4″L X 1 & 5/8 ” at the widest point, and in great shape, no damage. Pipestone can only be quarried by Native American Indians, and is found only in Pipestone, Minnesota (https://www.nps.gov/pipe/index.htm). It is open to many tribes. In this case the canoe is marked Wisconsin Catlinite. So someone of the Wisconsin Indigenous (Native American) tribes likely made this piece. Many are antique or vintage pieces done for the tourist trade but now are rare collector pieces. Many nations supplemented their income for survival through the late 19th and early 20th centuries through selling handmade items like this.