1850 Meerschaum Pipe Question

[pappymac]

I'm posting this here because I don't think it really fits in the "Pipe Talk" category.

One of my sisters found this interesting pipe in an antique shop. Unfortunately, the shop owner was removing the $24.99 price tag because someone he knows told him it was worth way more than $25. My sister sent my the photos and asked me to call the owner.
I'm not an antique dealer. I'm not an antique pipe collector (though I have stayed in a Holiday Inn Express). But, I do have an interest in old meerschaums and estate pipes. I looked through two of Ben Rapaports' antique pipe books and I think it dates back as far as 1850. Has anyone seen one like this? Also, can anyone identify the language on the cap?

 

[greeneyes]

I'll need to take a closer look from the computer but I seem to make out "konge" which is Norwegian. It might be shared with other Scandinavian languages. I'll have a look and maybe use some image processing software to discern the letters a little more closely.

 

[workman]

The text is danish, which was also the official language in Norway until 1905, I believe, so it can be danish or norwegian.
It reads: With God for king and fatherland.

 

[pappymac]

I'll need to take a closer look from the computer but I seem to make out "konge" which is Norwegian. It might be shared with other Scandinavian languages. I'll have a look and maybe use some image processing software to discern the letters a little more closely.

Thank you.
I'll pass that on.

 

[workman]

This may or may not be relevant. Denmark fougt two wars in the relevant time period.
One from 1848-1850, where they beat Prussia.
One in 1864 where Prussia beat them back.
The pipe looks like it could be a soldiers pipe with a little peptalk engraved, perhaps connected to one of those events.

 

[weezell]

They are ok for display but thatis about it...