Lot 388: A COLLECTION OF VICTORIAN AND EDWARDIAN FIGURAL CARVED MEERSCHAUM SMOKING PIPES

A collection of several hand-carved meerschaum smoking pipes and cigar holders from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The assortment features various intricate figural subjects, including a large pipe bowl carved in the form of a woman’s head wearing an elaborate feathered hat and a bearded man’s head wearing a tasseled cap. Other examples include a detailed scene of a fallen soldier or hussar pinned beneath a horse, multiple pipes featuring rearing or galloping horses, and one pipe with a seated pug dog on the stem. The pipes are constructed from meerschaum, showing a natural range of colouration from use, varying from off-white to deep honey-amber. The stems and mouthpieces are made from amber or amber-coloured resin. Some pieces are joined by silver-coloured ferrules; the ferrule on the pipe depicting the fallen soldier features three rectangular punches, including a lion passant mark.