Western Europe, Germany / Austria, ca. 19th century CE. An intricate pair of wood tobacco pipe bowls with ornately carved surfaces as well as silver and brass fittings. These are both hook shaped- the stem socket is shorter than the receptacle opening. The brass valve lid and cuff ring are present on the larger pipe, while the other is missing the hinged lid, but the 90% silver collar remains on the stem and receptacle bowl. The darker pipe has a man seated on the front of the bowl, the rest is scrolling vine and patterning. The other has trees with openwork branches, framing a landscape with men walking and a windmill. Wooden pipes are regarded as folk art as well as practical - the lid has vents along the rim, meaning that once lit, the smoker could lie in bed or around other flammable objects much more safely! Size: 3.5" L x 1.5" Diameter x 5" H (8.9 cm x 3.8 cm x 12.7 cm); silver quality: 90%

Provenance: East Coast collection, New York Gallery, New York City, New York, USA, acquired before 2010

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#175509

Stable pressure fissures in wood on both. Abrasions and chips, but surface of both are very smooth with patina from use. Soot and residue within both. Loss to lid on small pipe, and missing stem collar. Faint maker mark on brass fitting, and silver hallmark on silver fitting.