Posted 5 years ago
Mr.Prince
(18 items)
This little pipe looks handmade. I would love to know what that little knob on the underside is for. It doesn't make it stand up or anything like that. Seems to be made of a hardwood. Any info would be appreciated such as what type of pipe it is.
Thanks.
I'm no expert on pipes but have researched a few. This has a one piece shank and stem which is unlike modern pipes. The button on the bottom may just be a removable cleaning plug because nicotine moisture settles at the bottom of the bowl where the bowl meets the shank. Very difficult spot to clean when everything cools and hardens. You may be able to use a light and look down the bowl to see if the button hole is there, although you may need to scrape residue out first if the pipe is used. As I recall this design smoking pipe first came out in England around 1780 and was continued for years and also used in clay or pottery type pipes.
Thanks for the info fhrj2. I added a third up-close pic of the knob. It seems like its permanently attached now and when magnified, I can't see any seams. If it did once came out, the hole would be tricky to to get to and you wouldn't see it inside the bowl, as it would be a few mm down the stem. And now that I've been handling it, I don't even think it's wood, it sounds much more like a ceramic material when I tap it against my countertop. So my guess is it's clay or pottery like you mentioned. Thanks again!
Mr. Prince I think your pipe might be worth having an expert look at. When I enlarged the original pictures I questioned it being wood so that is why I mentioned other materials, the overall design etc. Good luck with it.
Mr. Prince I will post a link below for you. It is for a guy in Vermont who has about the worlds largest assortment of pipes. He also makes them by hand. Send him some good photos and ask for assistance. He is usually a little slow responding but always seems more than willing to be of help. He also buys and sells.
https://vermontfreehand.com/
Looks like an Irish clay pipe that my grandpa had.
Looks like an old clay pipe to me too. Maybe the knob was for tapping to clean it out without hitting the bowl??? Just Guessing!!
Stuff
My grandpa would hold the pipe by the knob.
Oh and for his grandchildren he would also use it for blowing bubbles.