The Art and Archaeology of Clay Pipes

A Photo Gallery of just a few Clay Pipes

Please note this page is being drastically updated (March 2008) and so text will be limited for a while.

Old Style Pipes 1600-1780 Period

Some of the earliest clay pipes found in Europe date from the late 16th Century and have very small bowls. As time went by the pipes were enlarged because tobacco became cheaper. Early pipes were usually plain with a flat heel on the bottom and milling around the rim of the bowl. Here are a few typical shapes recovered from land in the South West of England on my collecting adventures.

Fragments of pre 1780 pipes found in fields.

Many pieces of old clay pipes can be found in ploughed farm land which was used until the mid 19th century as a dumping ground for ashes, broken pottery, and decomposing sewage called "Night Soil"
Millions of pipe fragments can be found in land and gardens that were once fields treated this way. This was a common practise in those days for disposing of refuse and fertilising the soil, the pottery fragments and ash also helped to break up tough clay soils.

The pipe on the left of this picture was an early Devon pipe made around 1610-1620. You can see the size of it compared with a much later 1700-1720 period Devon pipe which is much more the modern size of a pipe bowl.

1790-1820 style Napoleonic Period

A typical ribbed Napoleonic war period pipe bowl showing the shape of the spur on the base of the bowl.

Early English head designs c.1840-1850

These fairly roughly moulded versions often originate from Bristol in England and while they lack the fine details of more grand later 19th Century styles they have a charm of their own.

Decorated Style Pipes 1830-1850 Period

These are typical of designs in the early Victorian period where the spur on the bottom of the bowl was reduced from the cylindrical shape to a small point. These show floral and symbolic designs, some were made by the Ring Family of Bristol marked "R" "R".

RAOB pipes

A common pipe design occuring in many variations and still made today is the RAOB pipe.
The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffalo's is a society which was formed in the mid 19th century. Records show that the seeds were first sewn in about 1822 by the theatrical fraternity but the Buffs as we know it surfaced some years later. The first charter formalising the RAOB was written in 1866. There are records of early ceremonies and the first mention found of clay pipes being used was in 1848. In that Initiation ceremony the pipe was broken over the candidates head. There is no mention of the design or style of the pipe used and sometimes a plain churchwarden pipe is used instead of the type with horns on the bowl. In the modern initiation ceremony the candidate breaks the pipe near his heart (its less traumatic). In senior ceremonies a pipe is broken on the candidates shoulder. The RAOB are still very active today doing much charity work.
(Information kindly supplied by an RAOB member with thanks.)
Pipes were also made for Freemasons, Druids and other Friendly Societies which used to meet in the local taverns where clay pipes were given out free.

Irish Pipes

Irish pipes are extremely common and were made from the mid 19th century and still are today. The Harp and Shamrock appear in many forms on these pipes and a number of them have "Dublin" impressed on the back of the bowl. Not all Irish theme pipes originate from Ireland, most were made in Scotland and the by Northern English makers for Irish people. Irish and Scottish pipes turn up in America in great numbers as many folk emigrated there.

Sport pipes

A common theme in the later 19th century and there are many variations of the football pipe. Other sporting pipes included, tennis, cricket, golf and fishing. Sometimes clubs had batches made with their local names and slogan's on the stem.

Jacob Pipes

This piece depicts the head of the famous biblical character Jacob. I found it on a 1910-1930 rubbish dump and it was one of my first ever finds. The condition is rather scorched and the coloured enamels have dropped of but the face stands out and displays well.
Made by a French firm L.Fiolet of St.Omer, France until 1921. and having coloured glazes on it.

Another identical Jacob pipe made by the firm Fiolet of St.Omer. This one is in near perfect condition with glazes of original colour.
The Jacob pipe was a very popular design believed to be first created by the artist Dantan (see below) that was copied by makers all over Europe. Often the text on the pipe above the pipe is in French and will sometimes read "I am the original Jacob".

Sailor

The sailor design was often used to advertise various tobacco brands of the time and these tend to date from the late 19th to early 20th Centuries.

Captain and Negro

Other late 19th to early 20th Century moulded portrait pipes

Queen Victoria 1897 Jubilee

Royalty was a big theme with clay pipe makers and almost every Royal event was celebrated on a pipe. In many cases the entire bowl formed the head of the Royal character.

Claw Pipes

The Claw Pipe was created in many forms too and this one is an elaborate eagle claw with reduced stem to fit a mouth piece of another material. Some simple claw pipes appeared as early as 1830 and the one shown here is of about 1860-1920 period. Claw pipes are still made today for collectors.

Horse

Many animals were depicted on pipes including horses, dogs, cats, pigs, buffalo's, bears, foxes. This horse pipe made late in the 19th century uses the entire animal in a well balanced way.

Miniature Owl Cigarette Pipes

Smaller pipes were also made and often follow the same themes as normal sized pieces. These two owl pipes are big enough to hold a cigarette and were recovered from a 1910 period refuse dump.

Childrens Pipes

Pipes were not always made for smoking, and smaller ones like these were made for children to blow bubbles. A number of themes include animals, plants and emblems. Some were made with incorporated whistles.

Giant Pipes

The large pipes, known as cadger's or advertiques were created as display pieces for tobacco shop windows and also for novelty value. They were also sometimes used at functions where they were lit and passed around a group of smokers. A number of variations of the St.Nicholas pipe exist as well as a Negro head, The Crystal Palace Exhibition and Football. You can read more about these by following the kink on my main pipe index page.

Fish Pipe

This is one of my favorite designs which depicts a fish made by the Southern Family of Broseley. This fish pipe was made at the end of the 19th Century and is still produced today.

Tulip

Floral design depicting a tulip and with coloured glazes. Originating most likely from France in the late 19th century.

Charles Dickens Character and Lady with Hat

Pipes such as these were very common in the late 19th Century and depict famous people of the time. Some were baked in a amber coloured varnish to make them appeal more to some smokers.

19th Century USA pipes

These two are typical of styles that originate from large production centres in Ohio and Virginia. They would have been fitted with reed stems.

Pipes by John Pollock & Co of Manchester, England.

This world famous company was founded in 1879 and was still making them up until the 1990's for collectors and smokers. Originals of these designs can be dug up from old bottle dumps or found in cellars and attics the world over. Sometimes it is hard to tell an original from a modern one, however, they are all made from the original moulds.

The Artist Rubens by Gambier

A very well made pipe by the firm Gambier of Paris until 1926. Made in a four pieced mould and decorated with glazes on the face. The firms mark J.G is stamped on the base and the mould number on the side. The design for this pipe was in use from as early as 1840 although many will date from the 1900 period.

Dantan by Gambier

Dantan was a famous French sculpture working for the firm of Gambier in Paris in the mid 19th century. He had the right idea... he created a pipe with his own head on it, thus preserving his reputation for decades to come. This one again has the mark of Gambier J.G stamped on the base. Dantan had a good sense of humour as well as being a master pipe designer and created many of the humerous designs that made Gambier famous. The firm of Gambier were awarded gold medals at exhibitions for their pipes.

The Duchess of Devon by Charles Crop

Charles Crop was a famous London maker who produced many elaborate well made pipes from the 1840's until 1924. This marvellous pipe depicts the Duchess of Devon who wore a very large fashionable hat.