help for a rookie

[bowhatchie]

I am going to show my inexperience here... but this is a pipe that I stumbled upon. no doubt it is old... My question is... is this a Meerschaum? It has the look of a VERY well colored Meerschaum.. almost too good! it has a gold band that says..12k gold filled and the stem is certainly that of the type of found on Meerschaums... the case is old but again the type I have seen with Meerschaums..I just don't know enough to be certain.

Any true test to determine?

thanks

 

[unclearthur]

It was very common for pipes made at the turn of the century to be cased and make use of that type of stem regardless of what they mere made from. A few clearer pictures would help a lot.

 

[flanative]

That pipe wouldnt happen to say "Hilson" anywhere on it , would it?

 

[fred]

Are there any markings on the Pipe, the Pipe bag or the Pipe

case. What is beneath the cake..., wood or Meerschaum? What

leads you to suspect that it's Meerschaum and not Clay?

 

[bowhatchie]

There are no markings or names on the pipe nor the case... I am sure most sure it is not clay... there is little to no cake... Do they or did they make briar or wood pipes to have the look of Meerschaum? This pipe really looks like a well colored Meerschaum. But again maybe to good.. there is some speckling at the top.. the bottom is almost black and in certain lights has an almost very dark green color to it.. Here are a few more pix.. as clear as I can get. thanks much!

 

[excav8tor]

Oh no!!! Don't start Bob off on Green Meerschaum pipes...hehehe

 

[bubbadreier]

Lol at excav8tor!
It looks to be a nice pipe!

 

[fred]

It's a good looking Pipe. The wear on the plateau suggests the use

of pigment to color the Pipe in it's carving. Pigment coloration is

subject to wear by abrasion, while the patina that develops from waxing

and smoking is not. Some pigments will also display different hues in

different lighting. I'd clean it up and smoke it.

 

[krgulick]

Whatever it is, hope it smokes good for you.

 

[python]

Excav8tor Said: Oh no!!! Don't start Bob off on Green Meerschaum pipes...hehehe

LOL!