Meerschaum pipe - Wood

Collection Seafoam Pipe with Engraved Silver Band – Austro-German Long Pipe (c. 1880–1910)
Refined collection pipe in seafoam with an elegant amber-toned mouthpiece, complete with its original shaped case. The specimen features a finely chased silver band, applied with rivets according to the artisanal tradition of Central Europe in the late 19th century.
The pipe, of substantial proportions (25 cm), belongs to the long salon pipe category, objects intended for an educated and bourgeois audience, often used as a symbol of status and refinement.
• Total length: 25 cm
• Weight: 32 g
• Mouthpiece: 8 cm
• Bowl:
o Height: 7 cm
o Outer diameter: 3 cm
o Inner diameter: 1.8 cm
• Material: seafoam / antique-looking artificial amber
• Band: chased silver, handmade
• Case: original, shaped interior, with a brand mark unfortunately illegible, see photo.
The quality of the foam, the workmanship of the band, and the mounting technique indicate an Austro-German production, probably made between 1880 and 1910. These pipes were valued for their lightness, the ability to develop a warm patina over time, and the fineness of the silver mountings, often crafted by small jewelry workshops.
The specimen presented here preserves the charm of reading pipes of the era, characterized by slender lines and harmonious proportions.
• Smoked pipe, with a uniform patina consistent with its age
• Mouthpiece bore loose due to wear of the original tenon, highlighted in photos, (typical flaw of antique pipes)
• No cracks or fractures
• Mouthpiece intact
• Silver band in good condition
• Original case with signs of age
Notes for collectors
Examples of this type, complete with case and with engraved silver mount, are today sought after for:
• elegance of proportions
• quality of the foam
• artisanal workmanship of the band
• overall integrity of the item
The 25 cm length and the presence of the original case add to its collecting interest.