Amazing, I would have sworn it was sandblasted. Thank you for you sharp eye.
THE RED BARON
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Now that I'm looking at this on a monitor and not my phone, it's clearly, and expertly, rusticated rather than sandblasted.
I love this pipe because of all of the anomalies. A French made pipe commemorating an enemy German war ace, with an English "Algerian Briar" stamp from a time when Algerian briar was considered 2nd rate material, so people didn't go out of their way to stamp "Algerian briar" on a pipe. And the rustication, which expertly mimics a sandblast, from a time when both were uncommon.
The only other time I've seen rustication carving like this was on. mid 20's a Barling Elite, which is featured on the Pipedia Barling page. The pipe feels like a '20's pipe. So, what's the 1917 about? Just so many anomalies, it's wonderful!
I love this pipe because of all of the anomalies. A French made pipe commemorating an enemy German war ace, with an English "Algerian Briar" stamp from a time when Algerian briar was considered 2nd rate material, so people didn't go out of their way to stamp "Algerian briar" on a pipe. And the rustication, which expertly mimics a sandblast, from a time when both were uncommon.
The only other time I've seen rustication carving like this was on. mid 20's a Barling Elite, which is featured on the Pipedia Barling page. The pipe feels like a '20's pipe. So, what's the 1917 about? Just so many anomalies, it's wonderful!
That’s the beauty of pipes: they satisfy your senses as well as your fantasies.
Thank you for the post.
BTW the French admired the Red Baron, and I think 1917 is when his plane was brought down.
I'm not saying it is Sasieni made, but rather it is not sandblasted.
Rustication really took off in the 1920s. There were various versions of a fine line. Or grained briar. I really like this one. It has a certain elegance to it. I agree it’s commemorative. Why would the French do it? The Baron was admired for his skill and gallantry. Pure marketing maybe?
It seems to me that while "Algerian Briar" was stamped with a traditional die, the "Le Baron Rouge..." gives me the impression of having been laser engraved (e.g. the later Upshalls). The font is too crisp, almost drawn on, with no evidence of displacement of briar around a stamp.
While I don’t have a better suggestion at this time, I don’t think the font is Times New Roman—the ascender of the lower case “d” would discount this typeface.
Yeah there is some forensic typography that could be applied here, as well as a closer inspection of the engraving. The engraving and the stamp don't appear identically executed, and the shape of the stem looks modern to me. To me the features don't appear to be unanimously consistent with any particular make or era.
Manfred von Richthofen wasn't killed until April 1918, so the 1917 date isn't commemorative to that.
However, in 1917 he did have his Albatross D.III painted red and is the year when he assumed command of Jasta 11, and then later JG1 (the flying circus). Also he was awarded his Blue Max that year, was wounded and published his Der rote Kampfflieger when he was on convalescent leave...so 1917 was a pretty significant year for the man.
en.wikipedia.org
However, in 1917 he did have his Albatross D.III painted red and is the year when he assumed command of Jasta 11, and then later JG1 (the flying circus). Also he was awarded his Blue Max that year, was wounded and published his Der rote Kampfflieger when he was on convalescent leave...so 1917 was a pretty significant year for the man.