Fish decoration

March 2002

This tobacco pipe originates from the workshop of the ceramist Owen Jegou, who was active around 1960 in France. It is one of the many examples of ceramic pipes that follow the traditional pipe shape, but are adapted to their own sense for design and taste. This can also be seen in the work of Jegou. In addition to variation in shape, we see different motifs, with which Jegou usually decorated his pipes: scratched animal figures, such as the fish or a standing rooster, occur alongside, for example, flowering tobacco plants or other motifs. Since Jegou is also known for some other pipe designs, we can assume that he was a respected ceramist in his time with a certain reputation as a pipe maker. It is curious to notice that a person like him is completely forgotten within a few decades. Nevertheless, thanks to this preserved pipe holding his signature, his work has gained eternal value. The carefully hand-made buffalo horn stem and the aluminium screw system with which it is attached to the pipe prove that it is actually meant as a serious smoking pipe.

Amsterdam Pipe Museum APM 16.457

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