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The First Pipe Show!: Difference between revisions
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Department, “The pipe is a wonderful piece but sadly it didn’t sell and has gone back to a family | Department, “The pipe is a wonderful piece but sadly it didn’t sell and has gone back to a family | ||
member.” | member.” | ||
This is from Bonhams' auction catalog: | |||
<blockquote>“A very large and impressive silver mounted Meerschaum pipe made by Benjamin Barling for the Great Exhibition of 1851. ...The inside leaf of the accompanying Barling catalogue reads The Barling Family were English Silversmiths and many of the fine silver mountings on pipes favoured by smokers at the end of the 18th Century bore the mark of Barling. In 1812 Benjamin Barling took premises in Golden Square, London and achieved his greatest ambition-to carve, and complement with his unique silver mountings, Meerschaum pipes which later won award at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Today the Barling tradition captures the finest elegance of both Bruyere and Meerschaum pipes -pipes possessed by connoisseurs and dedicated pipe smokers throughout the world.” </blockquote> | |||
A literal reading of “Meerschaum pipes which later won award at the Great Exhibition of 1851” should not be construed to mean that this pipe received an award. Fact is, Barling won no awards at this exhibition. | |||
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Facebook (Wombell’s Auctioneers, November 25, 2016): “In recognition of the excellence of | Facebook (Wombell’s Auctioneers, November 25, 2016): “In recognition of the excellence of | ||
their work, Barling’s were offered the opportunity to exhibit at the Great Exhibition of 1851, | their work, Barling’s were offered the opportunity to exhibit at the Great Exhibition of 1851, | ||
which they duly did, showing a set of 12 (my emphasis) silver mounted pipes.” | which they duly did, showing a set of '''12''' (my emphasis) silver mounted pipes.” | ||
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Danpipe.de: “The Kopp company is dedicating the Benjamin series to company founder Benjam | Danpipe.de: “The Kopp company is dedicating the Benjamin series [of briar pipes] to company founder Benjam | ||
[sic] Barling. On the occasion of the World Exhibition in 1851 he won the highest awards at the | ['''sic'''] Barling. On the occasion of the World Exhibition in 1851 he won the highest awards at the | ||
International Exhibition in London for his silver work on a pipe set.” | International Exhibition in London for his silver work on a pipe set.” | ||
Rallis.blog about Barling: “Auf der Weltausstellung 1851 erhielt man für die außergewöhnlich | Rallis.blog about Barling: “Auf der Weltausstellung 1851 erhielt man für die außergewöhnlich | ||
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for a meerschaum pipe bowl to be carved in Vienna or Munich, and the silverwork and stem | for a meerschaum pipe bowl to be carved in Vienna or Munich, and the silverwork and stem | ||
added in London to complete the pipe. All the dots are there. To connect them just required a | added in London to complete the pipe. All the dots are there. To connect them just required a | ||
degree of investigation and analysis to arrive at a logical | degree of investigation and analysis to arrive at a logical explanation based on the visual | ||
evidence and an understanding of the stylistic changes in meerschaum pipe formats and styles | evidence and an understanding of the stylistic changes in meerschaum pipe formats and styles | ||
as they evolved from mid- to the late 19th-century. | as they evolved from mid- to the late 19th-century. | ||
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necessary to analyze all the available facts. The Barling pipe affair is a perfect example of | necessary to analyze all the available facts. The Barling pipe affair is a perfect example of | ||
how a story can take on a life of its own, frequently being modified, changed, expanded, or | how a story can take on a life of its own, frequently being modified, changed, expanded, or | ||
embellished to make it more interesting | embellished to make it more interesting in pipe books and then online as it travels around the | ||
Web. | Web. | ||
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To those who follow Barling (or briar) history, I would not expect that you would be as familiar | To those who follow Barling (or briar) history, I would not expect that you would be as familiar | ||
with the evolution of the meerschaum industry in Europe in the mid- to late-19th century. To | with the evolution of the meerschaum industry in Europe in the mid- to late-19th century. To | ||
those who did not question Bonhams description of that auction pipe and embraced it, I believe | those who did not question Bonhams description of that auction pipe and embraced it, I believe that my explanation is plausible and persuasive. | ||
that my | I’ve tried not to wallow in the details but, unfortunately, the devil | ||
is in these very details. As an antique pipe-research addict for more than 50 years, it was an | is in these very details. As an antique-pipe-research-addict for more than 50 years, it was an | ||
academic challenge to disentangle and dissect what’s been written and then to formulate a | academic challenge to disentangle and dissect what’s been written and then to formulate a | ||
rational and very plausible explanation of the origin and disposition of this meerschaum pipe. | rational and very plausible explanation of the origin and disposition of this meerschaum pipe. | ||
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probably be in the public eye once again and it may eventually have a new owner. | probably be in the public eye once again and it may eventually have a new owner. | ||
As an aside, Bonham’s County Sale of silver and jewelry in Bath, England, on September 20, 2004, included Lot 231, a Barling & Barling meerschaum pipe with silver fittings, stamped 1883. It sold for only £88 ($111) including premium. This pipe is more the typical format and style of a British meerschaum pipe I would have expected from Barling…smooth finish, uncarved, but exhibiting the company’s fine silver | |||
décor. | |||
[[File:TheFirstPipeShow-1883-Silver-Meer.jpg|thumb|center|600px|Courtesy, [http://bonhams.com/ bonhams.com]]] | |||
The Great Exhibition was the first ever international exhibition of manufactured products, a | The Great Exhibition was the first ever international exhibition of manufactured products, a | ||