Zouave Pipes...

[Patrick H]

This one is quite nice with its hinged kepi lid... although it has some damage on the right side...

I agree. It's a shame about the damage. Do you have any idea what caused it? I was going to say "burn through", which can happen to smoking pipes, but it looks almost like tool marks or teeth marks on the outside around the hole. Mice? Attempt to inlay a repair that was abandoned? I couldn't tell you for sure about smoking with the lid closed. If the pipe was vented through the nostrils, the bowl would probably never be loaded above that level. It seems more likely to me that the lid would be a loose-enough fit to allow plenty f air in. That's purely a hunch, though. This pipe has a beautiful stem, too. Looks like it might be horn.

 

[Private Watkins]

I agree. It's a shame about the damage. Do you have any idea what caused it? I was going to say "burn through", which can happen to smoking pipes, but it looks almost like tool marks or teeth marks on the outside around the hole. Mice? Attempt to inlay a repair that was abandoned? I couldn't tell you for sure about smoking with the lid closed. If the pipe was vented through the nostrils, the bowl would probably never be loaded above that level. It seems more likely to me that the lid would be a loose-enough fit to allow plenty f air in. That's purely a hunch, though. This pipe has a beautiful stem, too. Looks like it might be horn.

No idea what caused the damage, but burn-through would seem the most likely scenario. Perhaps the surrounding damage was as you say a repair attempt that was not completed.

Or then again... maybe it was caused by a bullet strike while being carried in the pocket of a soldier charging the lines at Cold Harbor, or Vicksburg, or Shiloh, or Spotsylvania, or Kennesaw...?

 

[Patrick H]

Or then again... maybe it was caused by a bullet strike while being carried in the pocket of a soldier charging the lines at Cold Harbor, or Vicksburg, or Shiloh, or Spotsylvania, or Kennesaw...?

This makes a MUCH, MUCH more interesting story about the pipe!

 

[Private Watkins]

Adding another beautiful pipe bowl to this thread... this one is said to have belonged to a Col. Jacob E Taylor...

 

[Patrick H]

I think these pipes are fabulous (I used to be a pipe smoker, so I can almost taste them as I view them) and I think this thread is great!

 

[Private Watkins]

I think these pipes are fabulous (I used to be a pipe smoker, so I can almost taste them as I view them) and I think this thread is great!

I've never been a smoker, but these pipes together with childhood memories of the wonderful aroma of my dad's pipe smoke are almost enough to make me want to try out pipe smoking...

I guess if I wait long enough into old geezer-hood then it seems I ought to be able to take up things like pipe smoking with little fear of long term consequences!

 

[Package4]

Whoever made that pipe was a highly skilled artist. I don't think it is a piece of folk art carved by a soldier in camp.

Actually many such pipes were carved in camp, all walks of life either were enlisted or drafted and with Winter camp came hours upon hours of free time. Wood carving was a much more common past time in the 19th century and it was not rare to have many such artisans in each company. There are many examples of POW carvings that are just as intricate and complex, though their material would have been severely limited, cow bones being the primary medium.

 

[Private Watkins]

Bullet in Wood Pipe from Lookout Mountain "1st Sergt Dan Smith Co A 2nd Mo". Souvenir bullet-struck piece of wood with 5" pipe bowl carved "1st Sergt Dan Smith Co A 2nd Mo" and "Lookout Mt".

 

[donna]

Just saw this thread. Beautiful pipes. My Dad smoked a pipe and collected many. I still have some of them stored away.

 

[Private Watkins]

Here are some pipes from the Norm Flayderman pipe collection that I'm delighted to have added to my collection...

 

[Private Watkins]

 

[Private Watkins]

More...

 

[Patrick H]

Wow! This thread has been rockin' around here for a year or more. I love seeing these examples of fabulous craftsmanship. Please keep them coming. I can't contribute anything of substance, but I will pop up as a cheerleader from time to time...you know...asking for much more of the same!

 

[Mike Serpa]

View attachment 153298 View attachment 153299

Very nice! What materials are they?

 

[mofederal]

These are some very sharp looking pipes. I was a long time pipe smoker. I miss it very much. The taste and smell of fine tobacco. I had some very fine not so fancy pipes I used. Thank you for posting these fantastic pipes. I really would like to smoke again, but cannot for health reasons. This thread has brought back some great memories.

 

[Covertjy]

Hi All,

As a new member I must say that this thread is what drew me to your site in the first place. I was very fortunate to find 3 of the pipes discussed in this thread recently on ebay. I was even more fortunate to be the successful bidder on each. Shown below are my recent acquisitions. As a Civil War collector I have recently "invaded" our living room as my collection has exceeded the bounds of my office. My wife has not objected to these folk art additions to the curio cabinet that has previously housed only vases and such.

 

[Covertjy]

I just purchased this companion piece for those awesome pipes. I picked it up on ebay and the description follows. I've got to say that some of the accoutrements of the era far exceed today's throw away merchandise. Although it is not engraved it would have been nice to find out who owned such an indulgence.

Description:This match safe comes from an estate sale that included a huge collection of rare antique match safes and holders. This rare match safe/dispenser has a sliding button with a spring that when you slide the button it pushes out a match. There is a lid that opens to put in the matches. You just pull up on the lid to open it. On the end side there is row of tiny holes in the metal that appear to be the striker. The safe is very slim and measures 2-1/2" x 1-1/2". Minor surface wear. One side has a starburst design and a shield in the center which reads "SMITH PATENT JAN 17, 1860". The other side has a floral design in the center around a space reserved for a monogram. There are still old wooden matches inside. Beautiful antique collectible in great condition.

 

[Cavalier]

@Covertjy You are fortunate indeed to be able to get these. And thanks for the photos. I was never a smoker but these make me want to take it up just for the cool old pipes!

John

 

[Covertjy]

I know this is an old thread and didn't realize that it has been 3 years since my purchase of three pipes. I just saw this on eBay and couldn't resist. It's a Meerschaum and smaller than the others. It's about 4 inches long.
Thanks for looking.

 

[Cavalier]

That, in my humble opinion is art.

John