Bag shape with rocailles
mai 2012
It is the dream of the collector of meerschaum pipes to find an early piece, a pipe dating from the eighteenth century or even earlier that confirms the evolution of the meerschaum pipe. This pipe bowl has that appearance because of the characteristic rococo style, but if you look closely you will see that it is a neo style. The pipe bowl is a conically raised bag shape with the usual slightly rising stem ending in a stub. On the front of the bowl, continuing on the underside, a beautifully shaped motif of feather-shaped leaves has been carved that most resemble a free and above all elegant interpretation of the acanthus. The ornamentation is closed on the left with a C-volute with a foam head that is characteristic of the rococo. An open-worked C-volute connects the stub with the bowl wall. Also note the lid that has a meerschaum insert and ends with a button. Although everything is executed in eighteenth century style, it is a nineteenth century adaptation which is betrayed by the details. The bowl is not convex enough, the top is too elongated, the c-volute between bowl and stem too stiff. No, the rococo style was a lot more flamboyant than this pipe bowl shows. In addition, the later dating is also confirmed by the silver hall marks, which testify to a date after 1870. Yet it is a fine piece made in a skilled manner in a leading Viennese workshop.
Amsterdam Pipe Museum APM 21.017
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