Caved meerschaum pipe, Vienna, Austria, 1871-1890

SMG00199209 Finely carved meerschaum tobacco pipe with bowl in the form of

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SMG00199209
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Finely carved meerschaum tobacco pipe with bowl in the form of
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Finely carved meerschaum tobacco pipe with bowl in the form of a black person's head, with wide brimmed basketwork hat and bowtie, amber mouthpiece, Carl Hiess, maker, Vienna, Austria, 1871-1890

This pipe is decorated with the face of a black man of African descent, wearing a basketwork hat and a bow-tie. This type of decoration was common due to the fact that from the 1600slarge numbers of Africans were enslaved in order to work on tobacco plantations in the southern United States.

The pipe is made from a material called meerschaum, a white coloured clay like mineral. It can be ornately carved to produce highly decorated pipe bowls, often with faces or human figures. The mouthpiece is made from amber.

Details

Category:
Smoking
Collection:
Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
Object Number:
A49442
Materials:
meerschaum, mouthpiece, amber, case, leather, case, wood, case, velvet and case, silk, lining
Measurements:
overall: 90 mm x 195 mm x 58 mm, 20 mm, .07kg
type:
meerschaum tobacco pipe
credit:
Wellcome Trust (Purchased from Stevens)