Bearded man with turban - Meerschaum pipe - Amber,silver,sea foam

ANTIQUE FIGURAL MEERSCHAUM SMOKING PIPE
Carved bearded man with turban
TURKISH PASHA'S HEAD
Possibly Vienna, Austria, late 19th century

Of typical shape, made of sepiolite and carved into the shape of a bearded Turkish Pasha, wearing a fez hat with long tassel, with a screwed-in amber coloured mouthpiece.

Meerschaum pipes embody the flourishing mercantile and artistic exchanges occurring between the Ottoman Empire and the West throughout the 19th century. The material they are made of, called sepiolite or Meerschaum in German (sea foam), was often found floating in the Black Sea, where it was fished by Turkish fisherman. Dried and roughly carved Turkish Meerschaum products would then enter the mercantile routes towards Europe and often end in manufacturing centres of renowned fame, such as Vienna. Sadly, the Austrian production terminated in the 1970s, when Turkey banned the exportation of Meerschaum nodules, trying to set up and foster an exclusive localised industry. The once famous manufacturers have since disappeared and European pipe producers turned to other sources for their pipes.

Excellent condition.

The dimensions of this pipe are:
Long:cm 13
tall cm 6
Depth cm 4

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