Tabakpfeifenkopf
- Kongo [Land]; Azande (Asandeh) [Ethnie]
- Königliche Preußische Kunstkammer, Ethnografische Abteilung (Previous owner); Georg Schweinfurth (Collector)
Disruptions to trade in the Middle Ages meant that elephant ivory was exceedingly rare in Europe. Instead, walrus tusks were used for carving valuable objects such as chess figures. In the medieval era, chess was initially a game played by knights and later symbolized the game of seduction played by lovers.