Fragment pijpenkop 1745 - 1785

This fragment of a pipe bowl was made by Pieter de Leeuw. Observe the worn texture and the off-white tone, suggesting age and use. The object's form, a truncated cone, leads the eye along its surviving lines. Consider how this fragment, standing alone, destabilizes our understanding of the whole. Its incompleteness invites us to imagine the full form and its original context. The subtle markings – perhaps maker’s marks or decorations – add to this semiotic puzzle, hinting at stories of trade, consumption, and personal identity. This pipe bowl transforms from a simple utilitarian object into a vessel of cultural significance. The imperfection of its fragmentation is not a deficit, but rather an invitation to look beyond the object and engage with broader cultural and philosophical discourses about history, memory, and meaning.