need help identifying this pipe

[cavoso]

hey guys, this pipe was handed down to me. no one in my family knows anything about it, my papa (the person that bought the pipe) has passed away. it looks like its barely been used, im just trying to figure out what the pipe is made of. i.e. what type of wood, or is it clay, meerschaum etc. thanks!

 

[ichbinmuede]

Hmm looks like meerschaum to me but that's about all in the way of identification I can provide. Does the stem unscrew from the shank? If so that would remove any doubt I had about it being meerschaum but it still looks quite meer like from here.

 

[matchstickman]

Does the stem unscrew from the shank? If so that would remove any doubt I had about it being meerschaum but it still looks quite meer like from here.

I was actually going to ask that same question. Most of the meerschaums that I have run into have a screw style tenon. That would be a good way to indicate. Meerschaums are also known to be designed in ornate face patterns such as this one, although I have seen some old wood pipes carved like this as well, but I have encountered none shaped like this made out of actual briar. I seem to remember reading somewhere that there was a test you could do for pipe materials. Take a bit of saliva and run it along the inside of the bowl, then watch to see how long it takes to absorb. If it absorbs very quickly, odds are it is Meerschaum. If it absorbs somewhat slowly, it is probably briar. If the saliva doesnt appear to absorb at all, it is probably some other sort of painted wood. Hope this helps!

 

[ichbinmuede]

Also no wood grain at all. So I have no doubt that it isn't wood. Even bare briar that I've seen has never been that colour and I've never seen a wood that has that sort of character when carved. Also now that I think about it like that all the clay that I've seen is far rougher in appearance all around. So upon further reflection I have almost no doubt that it's meerschaum.
It does look like it needs a good waxing though.

 

[matchstickman]

Also no wood grain at all. So I have no doubt that it isn't wood

Probably one of the first things I should have looked for :crazy:

 

[ichbinmuede]

Haha "forest for the trees" my friend. Happens to me all the time.

 

[buckeye]

he may be wondering who the maker is.it is a meer.

 

[ichbinmuede]

True but that is unfortunately a question I have no answer for. There might be somebody out there who can name names on these old meers of similar style but I haven't had the privilege of meeting him. If he's out there though he'd definitely earn some points around here.

 

[buckeye]

i can`t tell one meer from the other.not sure if they mark them.

 

[cavoso]

Hey guys, not really looking for a maker, there's not really any markings on it so I know that would be pretty impossible. Saliva or water seems to dissolve quickly, and it does screw in. I found it weird that it screws into plastic, here's what that looks like.

.

 

[nathaniel]

yeppers... that a meer.

 

[cavoso]

Alright, cool. Thanks for all your help guys!

 

[rigmedic1]

Weight would be another indication once one had eliminated wood. If it is heavy, it could be African meerschaum, or clay. Something else to consider.

 

[lonestar]

Thats Turkish meerschaum. African meers werent carved that I know of.

Nice pipe, enjoy it.