Eye Candy for the Tobacco Pipe Connoisseur. 19th–century meerschaum pipes in word-pictures: Difference between revisions

      

“This [pipe] was specially carved for this exhibit [Chicago’s World Fair in 1893] by one of the most expert workmen of this firm [William Demuth].  It stood in the centre of the open space in a special crystal case by itself; the meerschaum head measured sixteen inches long by seventeen inches in height, and contained twenty-one figures, surrounded by foliage and minor details representing the landing of Columbus, with the natives dispersed about the strand, the women peeping through the bushes. It was a marvellous piece of carving from the solid raw material. In most exhibition pipes the carved figures have appeared in relief, which is to say, they have been backed by solid material, but with this pipe the figures were carved distinct, and individually perfect, from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, the strength being given by the interlacing of foliage so as to protect the work, which covered the whole upper surface of the stem of the pipe from the bowl to the mouthpiece. A piece of meerschaum was specially obtained from Turkey for this purpose. The stem was worthy of the pipe, consisting of a mass of cloudy and clear amber artistically cut into what is known as the ‘thorn’ pattern, and it measures eleven inches in length, with a diameter of two inches in its thickest part, having a shell finish terminating in a plain mouthpiece. It was insured for $10,000, and must have served as a live object-lesson for the pipe manufacturers of other countries” (“A Pipe Exhibit at Chicago,” ''Tobacco'', March 1, 1894).  

“There is also a side issue—a pipe made in honor of the society, and known as the St. Nicholas pipe. This is a meerschaum, in the fine collection of Mr. Ogden Goelet, of the society. It is a pipe with a curved stem and a very handsome amber mouthpiece. The bowl of the pipe is of the ordinary shape or form, but seated on the cover is the figure of St. Nicholas [the patron saint of this society], while on the side of the cover is the figure of Peter G. Stuyvesant, with his wooden leg, the first Governor of New York and the first president of the St. Nicholas Society, while on the other side is Wouter Van Twiller, the first Governor of New Amsterdam, leaning back in his chair, with his pipe in his hand, and in front of the bowl is the figure of Van Courtlandt, the first Governor of Communipaw, reclining under a tree. The artistic work on this pipe is very fine, and the carving was done by Artist Kaldenberg, of this city” (Wilf P. Pond, “The St. Nicholas Society,” ''Frank Leslie’s Popular Monthly'', July to December 1895).