Waking Up An Old Briar Lion

[Lost Somnambulist]

I ran across this old briar lion pipe on eBay a little while ago and something just kept calling me back to it. Figural pipes are interesting but I've not seen one that captivated me like this one, especially in briar. Well, I ended up contacting the seller, we came to a gentlemanly agreement, and soon I was peeling away layers of bubble wrap, excited about the restoration ahead. I think the old king turned out quite nicely. With my work done, I'm now setting back and contemplating the mysteries of where and when this pipe began.
There are no maker's marks or signatures and the stem is horn with a bone tenon. Would any of you fine masters of pipe lore have any ideas on the origin or age of this pipe?
Here are the before, during, and after photos.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

Nice old pipe, that band, stem and tenon scream French to me.

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

Nice old pipe, that band, stem and tenon scream French to me.

Thanks! There is just over 80 grams of pipe there so it has a definite presence as well. There is so much of pipe history I still have to explore. The mystery and history of some of these pipes draw me into their story.

 

[sablebrush52]

That's a nice bit of carving. The tenon is unlike any other that I've seen. Based on the quality of the carving, materials, shaping of the stem, and the tenon not being screw-in, could go as early as the late 19th/early 20th century with it more likely being 20th.

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

That's a nice bit of carving. The tenon is unlike any other that I've seen. Based on the quality of the carving, materials, shaping of the stem, and the tenon not being screw-in, could go as early as the late 19th/early 20th century with it more likely being 20th.

I know there are some nice briar carvings out there but this is the first one like it I've gotten in my hands. It reminded more of the meer carvings I've seen. I'm guessing briar is a more difficult carving medium than meerschaum when it comes to figurals like this. It is hard to see in the photos but the carver managed to align the mane with the natural striations in the briar for a really subtle but nice effect.
Early 20th century would mean this pipe has lived a little history!

 

[didimauw]

That's pretty neat! Nice work!

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

That's pretty neat! Nice work!

Thanks! Fist time I've tried my hand on one like this.

 

[mso489]

I haven't seen that many figural/carved restorations on Forums, and this is a good one, respectful of the materials and original finish on the pipe. It looks unusually well-made in the first place. At first, I mistook it for Meerschaum.

I've always thought cats of various sizes and species age with a lot of dignity, and this sculpture captures that. I've had some elder domestic cats who retained their spirit and presence to the end.

 

[shanez]

I like the carving and the stem is just gorgeous.

 

[sablebrush52]

I know there are some nice briar carvings out there but this is the first one like it I've gotten in my hands. It reminded more of the meer carvings I've seen. I'm guessing briar is a more difficult carving medium than meerschaum when it comes to figurals like this. It is hard to see in the photos but the carver managed to align the mane with the natural striations in the briar for a really subtle but nice effect.
Early 20th century would mean this pipe has lived a little history!

Yes it has!

Briar would be more difficult to carve than meerschaum. Contemporary figural carving in general has gone deep into the shitter when you compare it to the best of the 19th century. The level of finesse, quality of finish, delicacy of detail, is almost completely nonexistent in the modern work that I've seen. There is the occasional quality piece, but the overall level is, flush! glug! glug! glug!

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

I haven't seen that many figural/carved restorations on Forums, and this is a good one, respectful of the materials and original finish on the pipe. It looks unusually well-made in the first place. At first, I mistook it for Meerschaum.

I've always thought cats of various sizes and species age with a lot of dignity, and this sculpture captures that. I've had some elder domestic cats who retained their spirit and presence to the end.

Thanks MSO! I actually sat with toothpicks and a cloth cleaning the lines and details trying to be as careful as possible. I didn't want to change it, just bring it back to life.

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

Yes it has!

Briar would be more difficult to carve than meerschaum. Contemporary figural carving in general has gone deep into the shitter when you compare it to the best of the 19th century. The level of finesse, quality of finish, delicacy of detail, is almost completely nonexistent in the modern work that I've seen. There is the occasional quality piece, but the overall level is, flush! glug! glug! glug!

Now that's an honest appraisal I can appreciate!

 

[OzPiper]

I'm not into figurals, but that is a particularly fine example of one.
I wonder if it could be a Louis Lamberthod (St Claude) pipe

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

I'm not into figurals, but that is a particularly fine example of one.
I wonder if it could be a Louis Lamberthod (St Claude) pipe

I wasn't into figurals either, till I ran across this one! I'll have to look up Lamberthod's work, maybe there's something there. Sat down with my dad yesterday evening and we searched through Google images trying to find something similar, but the only thing I came away with was a growing appreciation of whoever carved this briar. To think, I almost passed on it because I thought I didn't need another pipe!

 

[kcghost]

I'd say it was an early French pipe and the leave the actual dating to those that know.

 

[OverMountain]

Wow! I’ve never seen a briar figural!

 

[Lost Somnambulist]

Wow! I’ve never seen a briar figural!

It's certainly the only figural in my small collection and the details are better than many of the meer figurals I've seen in photos. Having gained a little more knowledge shared by the pipe masters on this forum, it has taken an extra special place among my pipes.