Meerschaum Mystery

[Humblepipe]

I have a thing for odd/quirky pipes. This one fits the bill LOL. I just acquired this one for my personal collection. No stampings/maker's mark anywhere. Mortise/tenon receptor is threaded and made of cork. The stem (w/ threaded tenon) is odd, as it appears to be factory made and cumberland. See the last photo... looks like a seam to me on the tenon's "base". The stem and ornate shank extension are one piece. It's a larger pipe at 7" long. That's a big bowl (just how I like them). A tiny groove running 360 degrees at the top of the bowl - just beneath the rim... I've not seen that before on a meerschaum. I will smoke this on Friday and I am excited to take her for a spin. Just looking for some opinions about the pipe's possible country of origin (French?) and age... any other thoughts about the pipe...

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

The cork mortise is pretty standard but I think it was threaded at a later date to accommodate that beautiful stem. Cork is an absolutely terrible material to thread. I think that mortise joint could be improved. It’s a fantastic pipe and probably pre 1910. It’s most likely Viennese.

 

[Ahi Ka]

The cork mortise is pretty standard but I think it was threaded at a later date to accommodate that beautiful stem. Cork is an absolutely terrible material to thread. I think that mortise joint could be improved. It’s a fantastic pipe and probably pre 1910. It’s most likely Viennese.

Wouldn’t the threads on the tenon be enough to tap the cork mortise? Agreed stem is stunning. Pipe most probably had a cherry stem extension like other kalmasch

 

[Chasing Embers]

Wouldn’t the threads on the tenon be enough to tap the cork mortise?

The cork would probably crumble. Cork mortises tend to be paired with a smooth metal tenon.

 

[Humblepipe]

Thanks, gents. Even though the stem is not likely original, it does have an orific bit. Just trying to make. myself feel better, because I I am fond of old stuff hahaha

 

[Ahi Ka]

The cork would probably crumble. Cork mortises tend to be paired with a smooth metal tenon.

I hear ya, it just sounds like the OP is saying the cork mortise is threaded already.

The only cork mortise I have left is on this briar kalmasch, and it uses Bakelite or vulcanite as a tenon. I used to have one which had a taper on the cherry wood extension.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Thanks, gents. Even though the stem is not likely original, it does have an orific bit. Just trying to make. myself feel better, because I I am fond of old stuff hahaha

Those pipes were often not sold with a specific stem, rather the buyer would select from a range of stems and pick one to go with their pipe. So there is pretty good chance they have been together for a long time. And there’s not really a right or wrong stem for one.

I would 100% leave them together, but I would sort out the union with something a bit more secure and tapered. It might be as easy as relining the mortis and making a tapered end piece for the stem.

 

[Ahi Ka]

An aside, when was Cumberland/spindle/bowling ball/ whatever you want to call it first used as a stem material?

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

An aside, when was Cumberland/spindle/bowling ball/ whatever you want to call it first used as a stem material?

Ebonite has been around since the 1850’s, so I’d imagine Cumberland ebonite wasn’t too long after that.

 

[Humblepipe]

Ebonite has been around since the 1850’s, so I’d imagine Cumberland ebonite wasn’t too long after that.

Great news for me... as I said I love the old stuff.

 

[kcghost]

The pipe is rather nice but the deal about the cork mortise is a bummer.

 

[Humblepipe]

Looks worse than it is... no overclocking and fits snug. It comes with the territory when you like old souls the way I do. And, if I do need it addressed, I know who to send it to LOL.

 

[Ahi Ka]

Looks worse than it is... no overclocking and fits snug. It comes with the territory when you like old souls the way I do. And, if I do need it addressed, I know who to send it to LOL.

Send it to @shanez to smoke (and drop) in his pool

 

[AroEnglish]

That is very unique! Is the shank extension brass?

 

[Humblepipe]

That is very unique! Is the shank extension brass?

No. It appears to be all one piece. In fact, I'm pretty sure the shank extension has simply been hand painted.

 

[jpberg]

I still use cork when I put push stems in old clays.

 

[AroEnglish]

No. It appears to be all one piece. In fact, I'm pretty sure the shank extension has simply been hand painted.

I wouldn't have guess that was painted from the photos. Seems like it’s been well preserved.

 

[runscott]

The stummel with the rounder bowl is a very common 19th century design - I own one from a U.S. shop (doesn't mean it was made there), one from Germany and a briar one that I have no idea where it's from but it arrived with an early Peterson vulcanite stem, so maybe the UK. I've had the Dutch bowl design in meerschaum, with similar shank, from Austria and Germany.

The stem is probably your best way of telling where it's from, but who knows if it's even original to the pipe.

Very cool, though.

 

[Humblepipe]

The stummel with the rounder bowl is a very common 19th century design - I own one from a U.S. shop (doesn't mean it was made there), one from Germany and a briar one that I have no idea where it's from but it arrived with an early Peterson vulcanite stem, so maybe the UK. I've had the Dutch bowl design in meerschaum, with similar shank, from Austria and Germany.

The stem is probably your best way of telling where it's from, but who knows if it's even original to the pipe.

Very cool, though.

You have a thing for old meers too.... I remember that. You have some outstanding examples. Thanks for the insight.

 

[pappymac]

I think it's a lovely pipe and I would be proud to have it in my meerschaum collection.