Description

Straight stem clay smoking pipe with early type motif, often associated with pubs and taverns. The origin of “Cat and the Fiddle” dates at least to the 16th century with some sources claiming it as far back a hundreds of years before in both culture and literature. Rather than simple children’s nonsense, it’s widest spread popularity had it’s genesis likely in the 18th century when it was associated with pub game of the same name and theme as the later popular nursery rhyme. This was a very popular mass produced motif for clay pipes and produced for centuries in large quantities. Overall length is 4 1/2″. 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.  These white pipes were sometimes hand painted to personalize or add detail – we leave that to you.