Genuine Buffalo Horn Hairpipe

Buffalo Horn Hairpipe: A Contemporary Take on Traditional Bone Hairpipe

The craft item 'buffalo horn hairpipe' are made in India and Southeast Asia from water buffalo horns. They are a more contemporary version of the traditional 'bone hairpipe' used in Native American crafts. In the late 19th century, bone hairpipe became the material of choice, replacing fragile conch shells hairpipe that were as expensive as they were subject to breakage. This shift was largely due to the interaction of a trader with the Ponca Indians in 1880. The trader discovered that bone pipe stems from corn cob pipes were in demand as hairpipe. They were then produced in quantity in the shape of the old shell hairpipe and have been popular ever since. The buffalo horn hairpipe and the bone hairpipe are related in the sense that they are both variations of the original 'hairpipe' used in Native American crafts. The buffalo horn hairpipe is a more recent innovation, while the bone hairpipe was developed in the 19th century as a more durable and less expensive alternative to the original shell hairpipes.

We also offer these hairpipe in the traditional bone hairpipe, and other shapes: Bone spacers, Bone Feathers, Carved Bone, Bone Beads, Bone Tubes, Thin Bone Hairpipe. See separate menu listings and links for these other hairpipe styles.