Interesting Completed Ebay Auctions - British Pipes

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jguss

Lifer
Jul 7, 2013
2,686
7,395
The design of the pipe was registered 1904

There were two design registrations actually, the one from May 14-19 1904, and a second one (#538924) registered between March 16-23 1909 (see: HENRY COMOY BRASENOSE CARVED FIGURAL PIPE G,COOKE & CO OXFORD REG NO 538924/33 | #1410545427 - https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/henry-comoy-brasenose-carved-figural-1410545427).

Not sure of the difference between the two since I haven't bothered to order the paperwork, but suspect that the second one is a variant unique to another prominent Oxford tobacconist of the time, G. Cooke & Co at 49 High Street.
 
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Ahi Ka

Lurker
Feb 25, 2020
6,851
32,702
Aotearoa (New Zealand)

OzPiper

Lifer
Nov 30, 2020
6,872
37,185
72
Sydney, Australia
This one got away on me. I wanted to bring it home. I truly hope whoever purchased it treasures this taonga tūturu

Dave,
I immediately thought of you when I came across that listing
Better luck next time.
 

AroEnglish

Rehabilitant
Jan 7, 2020
5,178
15,243
#62
This one got away on me. I wanted to bring it home. I truly hope whoever purchased it treasures this taonga tūturu

Dang! I hope that it’s at least making its way to New Zealand, even if it’s not to your home.
 

AroEnglish

Rehabilitant
Jan 7, 2020
5,178
15,243
#62
The Kiwi in me hopes so too…the pipe smoker in me however kinda hopes it stays in the UK and gets put into rotation. If I had won it I don’t think I could legally smoke it.
What's the law that would prevent smoking this pipe?
 

Ahi Ka

Lurker
Feb 25, 2020
6,851
32,702
Aotearoa (New Zealand)
What's the law that would prevent smoking this pipe?
Not specifically. However given the age and provenance of the pipe’s carving style this item would be considered a taonga tūturu (Māori cultural treasure).

To legally import it I would need to be a registered collector of taonga Māori (I am), and upon importing I would need to declare the inclusion of this taonga within my collection and provide details of how it will be stored etc.

I am supportive of this legislation, even if it doesn’t make sense in a different cultural context.
 

greeneyes

Lifer
Jun 5, 2018
2,274
12,636
Not specifically. However given the age and provenance of the pipe’s carving style this item would be considered a taonga tūturu (Māori cultural treasure).

To legally import it I would need to be a registered collector of taonga Māori (I am), and upon importing I would need to declare the inclusion of this taonga within my collection and provide details of how it will be stored etc.

I am supportive of this legislation, even if it doesn’t make sense in a different cultural context.
I have seen one other such pipe that was in the family collection of someone in an English pipe making family. I'm interested to hear what you think the provenance of this pipe is: where and when it was made, and so forth. It's interesting to me because I had assumed that, due to the lack of identifying marks (other than the obvious Maori motifs) the pipe was otherwise unidentifiable, so I was surprised to see such vigorous bidding.
 

Ahi Ka

Lurker
Feb 25, 2020
6,851
32,702
Aotearoa (New Zealand)
I have seen one other such pipe that was in the family collection of someone in an English pipe making family. I'm interested to hear what you think the provenance of this pipe is: where and when it was made, and so forth. It's interesting to me because I had assumed that, due to the lack of identifying marks (other than the obvious Maori motifs) the pipe was otherwise unidentifiable, so I was surprised to see such vigorous bidding.
This museum has a nice collection, otherwise it is all up to looking through auction house results or individual museums. As you will see many are hallmarked and are marquees we normally chat about here.


(If the link doesn’t show properly, do a search with “Māori” as the ethnicity)

By provenance, I was referring to the provenance of the carving style and not the pipe itself. It is the aftermarket Māori carving which makes this pipe a protected object under heritage NZ’s legislation.

What caught my eye with this particular example is how the carver’s approach works with the shape of the pipe, and embellishes it.They were obviously a very talented kai whakairo (carver) and I wouldn’t be surprised if this was their personal pipe. The examples I have come across are either quite outlandish (though, again phenomenal workmanship) or were catered towards the tourist market. The exception to this are pipes which were carved in the trenches of WW1 and contain a mixture of Māori patterns and military insignia/battle locations.

As for the pipe’s provenance, I’m assuming it is an early century piece given the tenon and orific button. Most probably turned in France and then sold by a Brittish marquee. The metal band seems to be a later addition given how the carving continues under it. I wonder if it was a repair band. If removed one could see if the carving continued through to the stem connection, or if stops short allowing for an original band.

I do think the pipe is from the UK, hence my inclusion of it in this thread. Either sold in the UK and carved by a Kiwi soldier or expatriate, or imported to NZ and then taken to the UK sometime in the last century. The vast majority of antique pipes in NZ appear to have come from the UK, which makes sense given the commonwealth.

Please excuse the excited remarks of this kiwi. I just received notification that the winner of the auction has since passed on the pipe and it has been offered to me as the second highest bidder. This baby is coming home!

And in the unlikely scenario that the bidder changed their mind after seeing my comments in this thread, I bid you a hearty Chur bruda! Please get in touch
 

AroEnglish

Rehabilitant
Jan 7, 2020
5,178
15,243
#62
This museum has a nice collection, otherwise it is all up to looking through auction house results or individual museums. As you will see many are hallmarked and are marquees we normally chat about here.


(If the link doesn’t show properly, do a search with “Māori” as the ethnicity)

By provenance, I was referring to the provenance of the carving style and not the pipe itself. It is the aftermarket Māori carving which makes this pipe a protected object under heritage NZ’s legislation.

What caught my eye with this particular example is how the carver’s approach works with the shape of the pipe, and embellishes it.They were obviously a very talented kai whakairo (carver) and I wouldn’t be surprised if this was their personal pipe. The examples I have come across are either quite outlandish (though, again phenomenal workmanship) or were catered towards the tourist market. The exception to this are pipes which were carved in the trenches of WW1 and contain a mixture of Māori patterns and military insignia/battle locations.

As for the pipe’s provenance, I’m assuming it is an early century piece given the tenon and orific button. Most probably turned in France and then sold by a Brittish marquee. The metal band seems to be a later addition given how the carving continues under it. I wonder if it was a repair band. If removed one could see if the carving continued through to the stem connection, or if stops short allowing for an original band.

I do think the pipe is from the UK, hence my inclusion of it in this thread. Either sold in the UK and carved by a Kiwi soldier or expatriate, or imported to NZ and then taken to the UK sometime in the last century. The vast majority of antique pipes in NZ appear to have come from the UK, which makes sense given the commonwealth.

Please excuse the excited remarks of this kiwi. I just received notification that the winner of the auction has since passed on the pipe and it has been offered to me as the second highest bidder. This baby is coming home!

And in the unlikely scenario that the bidder changed their mind after seeing my comments in this thread, I bid you a hearty Chur bruda! Please get in touch
Yes!!! So stoked that it’s making its way to you!
 

Papamique

Part of the Furniture Now
Mar 11, 2020
793
3,971
This museum has a nice collection, otherwise it is all up to looking through auction house results or individual museums. As you will see many are hallmarked and are marquees we normally chat about here.


(If the link doesn’t show properly, do a search with “Māori” as the ethnicity)

By provenance, I was referring to the provenance of the carving style and not the pipe itself. It is the aftermarket Māori carving which makes this pipe a protected object under heritage NZ’s legislation.

What caught my eye with this particular example is how the carver’s approach works with the shape of the pipe, and embellishes it.They were obviously a very talented kai whakairo (carver) and I wouldn’t be surprised if this was their personal pipe. The examples I have come across are either quite outlandish (though, again phenomenal workmanship) or were catered towards the tourist market. The exception to this are pipes which were carved in the trenches of WW1 and contain a mixture of Māori patterns and military insignia/battle locations.

As for the pipe’s provenance, I’m assuming it is an early century piece given the tenon and orific button. Most probably turned in France and then sold by a Brittish marquee. The metal band seems to be a later addition given how the carving continues under it. I wonder if it was a repair band. If removed one could see if the carving continued through to the stem connection, or if stops short allowing for an original band.

I do think the pipe is from the UK, hence my inclusion of it in this thread. Either sold in the UK and carved by a Kiwi soldier or expatriate, or imported to NZ and then taken to the UK sometime in the last century. The vast majority of antique pipes in NZ appear to have come from the UK, which makes sense given the commonwealth.

Please excuse the excited remarks of this kiwi. I just received notification that the winner of the auction has since passed on the pipe and it has been offered to me as the second highest bidder. This baby is coming home!

And in the unlikely scenario that the bidder changed their mind after seeing my comments in this thread, I bid you a hearty Chur bruda! Please get in touch

This is one of the coolest most positive posts that I have seen in this thread of purse swinging gossip guzzling posts to date. Very educational too. As a result I have been researching Māori people/culture.I am very happy for you. Congratulations 🎊🍾🎉🎈
 
Jun 9, 2015
3,970
24,852
42
Mission, Ks
This cased BBB with a great Montreal tobacconists label in the case did a little better than I’d hoped it would. 😂

 

ssjones

Moderator
Staff member
May 11, 2011
19,044
13,181
Covington, Louisiana
postimg.cc
This cased BBB with a great Montreal tobacconists label in the case did a little better than I’d hoped it would. 😂


Interesting design! The hallmarks look like they were done yesterday.

1698838424626.jpeg
 

AroEnglish

Rehabilitant
Jan 7, 2020
5,178
15,243
#62
This cased BBB with a great Montreal tobacconists label in the case did a little better than I’d hoped it would. 😂

Same 🥲