Featured Pipe

Introduction

This page of the AIP website is where members can post photos and a description of a pipe they find to be of particular interest and about which they have a particular knowledge. Displaying the pipe in this way will also allow people to comment on it and submit additional information so that the description can be improved.

The ‘featured pipe’ will be updated at intervals and the previous descriptions added to an archive that will gradually build up a reference source of information about different types of pipe.

If you have a pipe you would like to share through our website please send photo's and a description to our administrator, Dr. Susie White at admin@pipeacademy.org.

Imperial French alabaster pipe

(Collection: Arjan de Haan)

2017-08-07

This featured pipe is an oddity, hand carved from a large, single piece of white alabaster.

On the front the pipe depicts the French imperial eagle, surrounded by low relief flowers. On the bottom is a depiction of Bacchus, the god of wine, surrounded by grape vines. The rear of the pipe has a cartouche with the text: "Souvenir du Sahara". And on the left and right ride of this pipe are the initials of the owner: B (left) and P (right).

This is a fairly large pipe, ca. 10 cm. tall and very heavy. This could not have been comfortable to smoke. This pipe was presumably carved by a French soldier during thew colonial period. Probably late 19th century (after 1884)