Name pipe for a German farmer

October 2007

This type of porcelain pipe bowl is a the so-called bag stummel. A bag shaped reservoir is moulded to the oval pipe bowl where the moisture collects. Such designs have been a variant of the normal oval stummel and the haydays are the mid-nineteenth century. The pipe with the reservoir is fairly common in the 1840s. They are painted in commission and generally carry fairly elitist representations such as a family crest or special inscription for students. This pipe bowl dates from 1862 and is painted in a folk aft style, intended for a new, lower target group. This points to the gradual decline in status of this object. This is a name pipe dedicated to country life. We see a farmer behind a plow with behind him a woman sowing. At the back a saying about plowing, not very understandable, is written. Because of the theme of the scene you could classify the pipe in the category with professions. The reason for making this pipe is not mentioned, it can be an anniversary gift or a present for reaching a certain age. Sometimes such a theme is written onto the pipe bowl, but in this case it is not.

Amsterdam Pipe Museum APM 18.991

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