A flat cap to catch the sparks

June 2013

The braiding of objects from wire of iron, copper or brass has been a popular pastime in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Not only for men but also for women. There is even a booklet with instructions for hobbyists in the braiding, specially meant for women of the higher class. Not surprisingly, therefore, that there are also objects made of silver wire and even gold wire. However, this pipe cap is simply made of brass wire, although it does have an original shape. It has been designed as a flat cap with a flap and will certainly have fitted well with a figurative pipe bowl, to provide a headgear to the represented person. In any case, there is pretty regular wickerwork with the original detail of two blue glass beads that are braided at the beginning of the flap. Of course, a safety chain with an eye is not missing, to prevent the pipe cap from falling off the pipe on the way and being lost. Thanks to the stem eye, he would dangle on the pipe.

Amsterdam Pipe Museum APM 21.602

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