I Once Saw a Six Bowl Pipe...

[mrpage303]

About 8 years ago I was at an auction house (just dropping stuff off for my Father) and I saw what I thought was tribal carving. On closer inspection it appeared to be a pipe carved of on piece of wood but with six, full sized bowls all connected to one stem which looked like it would have had a longer, detachable stem originally.
Has anyone else seen or heard of such a thing? Google doesn't seem to understand. As I say it may have been African in origin.
I hope I wasn't just imagining it!

 

[latbomber]

Welcome to the forums! and no I havent seen such a pipe, sounds like a good idea though :D

 

[mso489]

... then the maker of the pipe realized he just needed to switch from Carter Hall to Nightcap, and one bowl at a time

would do, so the six-bowl pipe went up for auction. Sounds like a conversation piece, a pipe, not so much.

 

[shutterbug]

I've seen a pipe with one bowl but four stems attached. I think it was a novelty item though.
Shutterbug

 

[kashmir]

I think this was called the Zibabwe Dunhill, specially designed for those who couldn't be bothered to carry their own tobacco. In the morning all six bowls would be loaded, a stopper placed in each, except to the lit bowl. As the day progressed, you simply moved the stoppers and relit the next bowl. It was assumed six bowls would satiate the even most ardent gentleman, although there was an eight bowled version, but the draw was not as good.

 

[uberam3rica]

I have seen a few two bowled pipes, but not a six bowled one. Thats pretty cool.

 

[wnghanglow]

Maybe to mix blends? One bowl of perq and 5 Virginias and you got a tasty light headed day ahead of you! Haha I have never seen such a pipe but like others said, I doubt it's usefulness.

 

[ejames]

Can't remember his name off the top of my head,but there is an Italian carver who is (or was) know for making pipes with multiple bowls. ? Believe it was Mauro Armellini -- check this link, shows a three bowl pipe he made--

https://www.google.com/search?q=Armellini%2Bpipes&client=firefox-a&hs=QFG&rls=org.mozilla:en-USfficial&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=nT6ZUvirCcrQyAHeuYDwBA&ved=0CGcQsAQ&biw=1280&bih=610

 

[mrpage303]

Great answers! Loving the link I could do with a more bespoke pipe!
Ah well, maybe one day I'll see another one and buy it to proudly display here!