Two Old Dogs Reunited

[Lost Somnambulist]

A few years ago, I came across an old pipe carved in the likeness of a dog. It was one of the nicer pipes like it that I have seen, so I grabbed it. The “collar” attached to the shank by a bone screw was split and a short stem had been shoved in there. I repaired the split, cleaned up the stummel, and fitted it with a long acrylic stem. The stem was just a wild guess on the length and shape.

Fast forward to now. A nearly identical pipe is now sitting on my desk. It is unsmoked and sports its original, solid rubber stamped stem with a round button, not slotted. The collar is brass studded.

I would love to hear any thoughts or theories on these pipes. With no maker’s marks or signatures, they are a mystery to me. I was told that with the solid rubber stem, round and unslotted button, bone screw, and style they may indicate they may be from the mid to late 1800s, possibly European made. If that is true, it is amazing that they would have gone different directions only to have arrived on my desk a few years apart so long after their crafting. This also makes me curious how many of the pack are still out there in the wild.

Whether they are uncommon creations or tourist items made by the hundreds, I’m enjoying seeing the pair together. I've since reshaped the curve of the acrylic stem to match the curve of the solid rubber stem. My next step will be to build a proper display for the two.



The first, restored with an acrylic stem; the only thing I had at the time:



Here is the one recently arrived after a clean up and polish (unsmoked and original stem):

 

[RPK]

Beautifully carved. If you can post a picture of them from the front that would be great to see. And your restoration stem was spot on and the two contrasting makes them spectacular.

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

Beautifully carved. If you can post a picture of them from the front that would be great to see. And your restoration stem was spot on and the two contrasting makes them spectacular.

Thanks for the reply! Here a few photos from the front:

 

[dd57chevy]

Sorry if I'm being nosy , but would you mind telling where you acquired them ? Seems remarkable that you would stumble across two identical pipes that unique .

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

Both were on the bay, a few years apart. One was delivered from South Carolina and the other from Florida. The odds have stirred my curiosity as well. They are nearly identical, but with enough differences to be distinct. There are differences in the facial features, also one has a brass studded collar while the other collar was carved to look like it has a buckle. It makes me wonder if they were carved by the same person or at least same shop.

 

[WVOldFart]

I'm not much for carved headed pipes, but those are really nice. Since I am a dog lover, I think they are precious. Have you smoked them. Really, really nice. They look hand carved instead of factory produced. Pipes to be enjoyed either on a shelf or being smoked.

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

I'm not much for carved headed pipes, but those are really nice. Since I am a dog lover, I think they are precious. Have you smoked them. Really, really nice. They look hand carved instead of factory produced. Pipes to be enjoyed either on a shelf or being smoked.

I've not been able to bring myself to bring a flame to either of them. The one that I gave an acrylic stem had been smoked before, so if I were to, that would be the one. The one with the solid rubber stem is unsmoked. I'm usually of the "it was made to be smoked" school, but these two old dogs have just been resting easy.

 

[Sea Lord]

These two have to be the most beautifully sculpted briar pipes I've ever seen! WOW!

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

These two have to be the most beautifully sculpted briar pipes I've ever seen! WOW!

Whomever carved them somehow captured the spark of a soul in their eyes.

 

[Choatecav]

I have to agree with @WVOldFart as I am not normally a big fan of carved head pipes. But these are in another category.
The photo you have above of the two of them crossed and sitting just behind your fountain pen is wonderful. Should be on a pipe magazine cover.
Hold on to them like grim death..............

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

I have to agree with @WVOldFart as I am not normally a big fan of carved head pipes. But these are in another category.
The photo you have above of the two of them crossed and sitting just behind your fountain pen is wonderful. Should be on a pipe magazine cover.
Hold on to them like grim death..............

"Like grim death", yes, they can rest from their wanderings right here as long as I'm around.

 

[VDL_Piper]

What a delightful set of Pooches and great that you have been able to reunite them. If they ever have pups I'll take the pick of the litter.

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

What a delightful set of Pooches and great that you have been able to reunite them. If they ever have pups I'll take the pick of the litter.

I'll be sure to let you know if they do! We'll both be surprised!

 

[Sea Lord]

Whomever carved them somehow captured the spark of a soul in their eyes.

I've seen quite a few and do own a few and yeah, they are awesome.

 

[tbradsim1]

Been having my GREE GREE DOGa mighty long time. He doesn’t like nothing but Haunted Bookshop, won’t light up on anything else!

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

View attachment 398054Been having my GREE GREE DOGa mighty long time. He doesn’t like nothing but Haunted Bookshop, won’t light up on anything else!

Be very glad he's on your side! Some nice carving too!

 

[tbradsim1]

Thank you! Yours are splendid, like you I am a dog person, I’m on my fourth Catahoula. I like em, I can talk to them and they don’t talk back!

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

Catahoula, beautiful dogs! My old lab passed away at 13 years old a couple of years ago. By the way, most of my childhood was in south Louisiana, swamps between Houma and Morgan City. Recession in the 80's sent up packing and looking for work. We looked like the Beverly Hill Billys with my dad's old welding truck loaded down with everything we had.

 

[tbradsim1]

I hear you, Dad was a welder for Chicago Bridge and Iron,I retiresd with 31.5 yrs wit Exxon at Baton Rouge Refinery&Chem plant,then moved on our 81 acres that’s been in the family for over 100 yrs. I’m a porch man now.

 

[blueeyedogre]

That must have been one hell of a dog to have not one, but two men carve a pipe in its likeness!! May I been so lucky that a dog (and a pipe) that good rest by my fire someday!