New (To Me) Antique Meerschaum: Any Idea Who It Might Depict?

[briarbuck]

Ric has one of mine right now. It's an pre 1900 piece by Heiss and Sohne that had a broken non-original stem when I purchased. I'm looking forward to seeing it when it's finished.

 

[alialansari]

As far as looks are purely concerned, I would imagine this pipe having been carved as a tribute to someone like Joachim du Bellay or any other remarkable figure of the sixteenth century.

 

[madox07]

Judging by the figure's head gear I would say it represents a 16th century german nobleman. The work is so much better than any "Turk Head" I have seen before. The coloring ... I was about to congratulate you on that, as it takes such a quality meer to be able to get that coloring, but since it is not authentic ... well a pity. Nice piece no the less. I am curios of your impression upon smoking.

 

[jonasclark]

Thanks. This artificial coloring job was extremely common on late-1800s meerschaums, including many really high-quality ones. Your suggestion that it might be a 16th Century German nobleman turned out, I think, to be spot-on; the hat matches exactly to a type of beret, popular in that time period, termed a "landsknecht," also called a "starfish" beret, which is floppy like a tam o'shanter, but has the 'vents' around the edge. Now, if I could only figure out who, unless it IS just 'in the style of,' which is possible.

 

[jonasclark]

Oh, and folanator, I hope we'll see photos posted when you get yours back!

 

[mso489]

On the matter of identifying the subject of this Meerschaum figural, I'd guess as with paintings, some were actual portraits or representations of historical figures or figures from theatrical plays. But as with paintings, there were also portraits that more represented a class, nationality, and even citizens of a particular region or city that were composites, not specific individuals. My guess is that this is one of those.

 

[jonasclark]

I wouldn't be surprised if it was just a general representation, yes.

 

[jonasclark]

The results:

The tortoiseshell lucite doesn't really approximate amber, but I really love it. Top-notch workmanship. A few days before these came back, I had a thought: wouldn't it be nice if the small pipe had a longer stem? The original was very short. To my surprise, that's exactly what Ric did.

 

[upnorth1]

Nice pipes. I love the new stems!

 

[ssjones]

What a find!

 

[jpmcwjr]

Brilliant! The stems "fit" the pipe's shapes perfectly, and not referring to just the tenon-mortise junction!
Nice photo, too.

 

[jonasclark]

The smaller pipe's stem, as recommended, is cemented in place, though the pipe is smokable (I won't be smoking it). The claw was drilled out and threaded, with a new push-pull inserted.

 

[elasmo]

New stem looks great. My guess would be that it's supposed to be Marco Polo.

 

[crashthegrey]

Based on elasmo's post Marco Polo seems likely. Based on my "search Google for this image" search it is a turkey. Either way, it is beautiful.

 

[tulsagentleman]

I have several meerschaums, two cheapos and one rather nice one. The figure would be Bacchus I believe. I talked my first wife into buying this for me for my birthday one time. Probably the reason we aren't together anymore. I still have the pipe.

 

[gatorlope]

He did some nice work for you, Jonas!

I just broke the stem on my briar volcano... He might be a go to guy for me!

 

[weezell]

^^ Ric be da guy for it... :wink: