Fragment pijpenkop 1600 - 1620

Curator: We're now observing "Fragment pijpenkop," an earthenware object dating back to the early 17th century, placing it within the Dutch Golden Age. Artist: It looks like a fossil! This little chunk of something that once was…It's almost sad, a memento of fleeting pleasure reduced to dusty remains. Curator: Precisely. Notice the materiality, the almost granular texture of the ceramic. The fractured edges invite speculation about its original form and function. Structurally, the surviving portion suggests a conical shape, truncated rather abruptly. Artist: Makes you think, doesn’t it? How many hands held this pipe, how many stories were shared over its smoke? Now it’s just… a thing. A broken relic of a past existence. Is there any mark, any decoration or motif left to indicate its purpose? Curator: There are faint linear indentations visible near the bowl, forming rudimentary patterns, or potentially aiding grip. Its form invites us to analyse its context – the role of tobacco in Dutch society at the time, and its symbolic significance, perhaps an escape or communion. The simplicity in composition contrasts strikingly with the elaborate ornamentation found in many contemporary artworks, placing function above all else. Artist: Simplicity’s not a bad thing, I like that. Makes you appreciate its history. Someone made this pipe. Used this pipe. Loved this pipe, or just really really needed it... And the material almost appears to be alive again, that off-white colour is strangely poetic and alluring… It makes me think about decay and resilience, and stuff, the story embedded within the shard of something lost and found. Curator: A compelling point, indeed. By observing even a mere fragment, the narrative, no matter how ambiguous, remains profoundly evocative. Artist: So long, little fragment. May your story continue, in pieces, to resonate for those who will find you interesting or feel a kinship towards your material.