The carver of the monkeys
gennaio 2026
Only rarely can we distinguish a specific craftsman or artist in pipe carvings. That is the case with this pipe. There are several versions of this design that are unmistakably from the same hand. This is evident not only from the wood used, but especially from the way it is carved. The pipe shows the head of a man with a long pointed beard, so long that it can be comfortably supported by the hand when smoking the pipe. Around the bowl opening, amusing carvings have been added in the form of two monkeys. Finally, on the back we find a dog hanging from the tail of one of the monkeys. In short, it is a charming object with an unusual design. What is striking is the beautiful type of wood from which this object is made, with hardly any grain and an exceptionally fine finish. A counterpart to this pipe, clearly from the same carver, is a pipe in the collection of Alice de Rothschild in Grasse. The pipe shows the head of a clean-shaven man with two monkeys on his forehead, one of them with a fruit in its right forepaw. Three copies of this pipe are now known, which are evidence of serial work. However, no copy of this bearded version has yet surfaced. Though the style is now recognizable, we unfortunately do not know the name of the artist, nor where these pipes were made, nor when. Only chance can provide the answer to these questions.
Amsterdam Pipe Museum APM 30.495
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