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LicenseMeerschaum tobacco pipe bowl, stem missing
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Meerschaum tobacco pipe bowl, stem missing
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Meerschaum tobacco pipe bowl, stem missing, in the form of a black person's head, aperture at top of head, tubular stem socket, European, 1860-1900
Carved from meerschaum (a soft clay like mineral), the tobacco pipe bowl is in the shape of a male African-American’s head. This type of decoration was common on tobacco pipes and was linked with the tobacco plantations where many enslaved African people were forced to harvest the crop, especially in the United States.
Tobacco smoking was enjoyed for its nicotine boost and its taste. The black staining around the opening suggests it has been heavily used. The stem of the pipe is missing.
Details
- Category:
- Smoking
- Collection:
- Sir Henry Wellcome's Museum Collection
- Object Number:
- A204851
- Materials:
- meerschaum
- type:
- meerschaum tobacco pipe
