Portrait pipe of Philippe VIII

June 2001

This portrait pipe represents the bust of Prince Philippe VIII, Duke of Orléans and pretender to the throne of France. The pipe was made at the beginning of the last century by the Société Bonnaud & Fils in Marseille. An example for this pipe was a sculpted wooden pipe from Saint-Claude, which was in circulation at the time. With this portrait pipe, Royalists were able to express their sympathy for the kingdom of France. This clay version is said to have been ordered in small numbers by a group of royalists, but there has never been any regular production. That is a doubtful statement, because making a multipart press mould was only worthwhile in a large print run. We can be certain that the sale will not have been very successful, because the intended coronation never took place. The rarity is partly confirmed by the fact that this pipe is missing in almost all collections. Characteristic for Bonnaud, the pipe is made in red-baking clay, the /surface is finished with transparent varnish to look more attractive, but also to be more colour-resistant.

Amsterdam Pipe Museum APM 16.196

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