Description

Straight stem clay smoking pipe with eagle claw holding the bowl. This a classic martial and patriotic period pipe design seen on the better and more expensive carved pipes of the era. Overall length is 4 1/2″. This black version evokes the vision of hard rubber eagle claw pipes sold during the war. Each piece bears the period label of S. Rosenfeld & Sons, Baltimore, a documented dealer in such goods. (unused original pipes we have examined, like many other period items, have born a such a pasted dealer/seller label as opposed to the actual maker) These pipes are made in Germany by a family firm who relatively recently discovered the original molds for the pipes which have been in the family, some for over two centuries. The kiln fired pipes are made on the original molds utilizing the original rolled clay process. These are not the more fragile poured slip mold pipes, much more cheaply produced and most often seen on the market today. They are made of rolled clay pressed into the molds and the result is considered a better, cooler smoking pipe with a longer life. They are distinctly identifiable as the surface of the pipe is not quite as smooth as the slip pipes with occasional surface imperfections. The black pipes are also made with a traditional process which takes the white clay pipe through an additional step giving it the black color and thus are priced accordingly.