51/125

This clay pipe for smoking tobacco comes from Mere in Wiltshire and appears to be a novelty pipe. The bowl is in the form of a face covered with vine leaves, and the stem is inscribed with ‘A Merry Christmas’ on one side and ‘& A Happy New Year’ on the other.

1 tobacco pipe: clay; good condition

Citation in publication [H. J. Massingham, 'Country Relics' (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1939)] –'Beside it in the Hermitage rests a clay pipe of the early nineteenth century from Mere in Wiltshire. The bearded face on the bowl is crowned with vine-leaves, and the slightly sinister cast of the features resembles the Inigo Jones' heads round the Sheldonian in Oxford. This pipe, like the tobacco jar, must have been for common use because the bowl will take two ounces of tobacco. As the Indians smoked their pipe of peace, so the harvesters theirs of fulfilment.' (pp.83-84), MERL list / description [Massingham Collection, October 1989] – 'ACC. NO.: 51/125 // NAME: TOBACCO PIPE // NEG NO.: 35/105 // STORAGE: ', Mr. Massingham, in 'Country Relics' (C. U. P. 1939) describes this as a communal pipe of the type used at harvest. This theory seems unlikely in view of the inscription, and is more likely to be some form of Christmas novelty.

1800-01-01 - 1824-12-31

Early-nineteenth century