A candle holder as a tobacco pipe

December 2023

The early porcelain pipe shown here originates from the Royal Porcelain Factory of Meissen. The pipe is known under the wonderful shape name Leuchtertulle, the shape refers to a baluster-shaped candle stand that crowns each candlestick to place the candle. The same shape has been processed into a pipe bowl here. The bowl shows a hand-painted field bouquet of four flowers on the front, each with its own colour, on the back we see a simple twig. At the base, this pipe bowl is mounted on a holder of turned buffalo horn in which the porcelain part is fixed with a screw. This mounting functions as a moisture lock, a very practical solution because this is also the part to hold the tobacco pipe. A short ascending stem with twisting in the oblique part makes the candlestick shape into a full-fledged tobacco pipe. The design of this pipe dates back to the 1780s, production continues into the 1795s. After 1800, this invention was completely supplanted by the emergence of the high oval bowl called stummel. The pipe bowl has retained its original silver drum-shaped lid with a long clamping spring. The top of the lid is engraved with the name and initials of the former owner or perhaps the donor. We read the name "SICKER" on a ribbon, with a heart below it and further a beautiful monogram of the letters "SJCD". These inscriptions personalize the pipe, although it is now impossible to find out how precious that inscription was at the time.

Amsterdam Pipe Museum APM 24.693

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