Empire style design with golden lid

août 2004

For those who take a good look, this meerschaum pipe bowl has a ravishing design. The bowl and stem have a flattened, swirling shape, while the characteristic bag type of the pipe fashionable at the time is still clearly visible in the bowl base. It is striking that the entire pipe is flattened on both sides, something we see more often at the beginning of the nineteenth century. This design with its slender shape and rising stem with wonderful curve at the end balances between the Louis XVI style and the Empire style. In addition to the particularly refined shape, the mounting also demonstrates exclusivity. This is not as usual made of white metal or silver, but in two colours of gold. The red gold was allied with copper, the yellow with nickel. The mounting is equally characteristic of the time of creation. Classic motifs were loved at the time, as evidenced by the helmet shape of the flap lid, but also from the vase in a standing oval on either side of the lid. Such characteristics are based on both Greek and Roman civilization. The subtle shape of the pipe and the refined decoration in the goldsmith work make this pipe an exclusive item for a wealthy smoker with good taste. The beautiful light meerschaum and the comfortable shape ensure optimum user enjoyment.

Amsterdam Pipe Museum APM 17.399

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