Nicely done. Is that a replacement stem or was it shortened sometime in its life? I see that you are suffering from the dreaded 'case' issues which can be remedied by buying new hinges from the company that makes them for dolls houses. PM me if you want their details. As an after thought the canted angle of that pipe suggests a late 1870s date. Is the silver repair hallmarked or is that Britannia Metal?
- It's a replacement stem, thanks to Mike Billington of Blakemar Briars, and half an inch shorter than the original (broken off at the lip). I shall PM you for details of that cunning artificer of dolls' houses' dinky hinge replacements - diolch yn fawr
I had thought that the canted bowl angle would have indicated an earlier date, as it seems ideal for simply leaning forwards, the pipe still in your mouth, toward a candle flame, to relight it - and otherwise, bloody awkward... however, no hallmark on the band - which is, I think, silver-electroplated Britannia metal so - unless it's nickel silver - thinking about it some more, you're probably about right on the date, as the process wasn't patented until 1846. And of course such a canted pipe could equally conveniently be lit from an oil lamp or a gas mantle.
And another thing: you are absolutely right, that an old design of pipe best suits an old style of tobacco: what was borderline harsh in a fairly short Zulu briar yesterday, smoked beautifully today in a long-stemmed Meer with a more cylindrical chamber. It was a glorious smoke. I had intended the pipe for display only, but... oh, maybe I'll see if I can commission a new Meer in the same style. Thanks again.
️ on the side.
Pipe Tristan: Pete’s Navy Rolls.
