Description

Straight stem clay smoking pipe with crossed flag motif across the front of the bowl. This was a very popular mass produced motif for clay pipes and produced for over a century in large quantities. Examples are dug in American camp sites from the Revolution to the Civil War. Overall length is 4 1/2″ with a good sized bowl for it’s size. This was a very popular motif sold to soldiers who often painted the flags to suit their preferences. I have seen them painted with themes from both sides of the Civil War conflict as well as Corps Badges, state, and other patriotic imagery. One that comes to mind had stars and stripes with the stars in a small circular pattern and a Corps badge on the other flag. In the post war period reunion era they were even sold with both the US and CS battle flags together.  Dug examples and used original pieces are also found unpainted – we leave this detail to you – make a statement! 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.