19th C. German / Austrian Wood Pipe Bowls (pr)

Western Europe, Germany / Austria, ca. 19th century CE. An intricate pair of wood tobacco pipe bowls with ornately carved surfaces as well as silver and brass fittings. These are both hook shaped- the stem socket is shorter than the receptacle opening. The brass valve lid and cuff ring are present on the larger pipe, while the other is missing the hinged lid, but the 90% silver collar remains on the stem and receptacle bowl. The darker pipe has a man seated on the front of the bowl, the rest is scrolling vine and patterning. The other has trees with openwork branches, framing a landscape with men walking and a windmill. Wooden pipes are regarded as folk art as well as practical - the lid has vents along the rim, meaning that once lit, the smoker could lie in bed or around other flammable objects much more safely! Size: 3.5" L x 1.5" Diameter x 5" H (8.9 cm x 3.8 cm x 12.7 cm); silver quality: 90%