Vintage Meerschaum Pipe Lion's Head with Open Mouth Bowl Yellow Colored Stem
Description: Vintage meerschaum pipe with a yellow colored plastic stem. The bowl of the pipe is carved in the shape of a lion's head with his mouth open. The beautiful carving shows great details of the lion's mane, open mouth, eyes, nose and even wrinkles in the cheeks. The open mouth shows fangs, teeth, and the tong with whiskers above it. The with a plain flat open short stem, in which the yellow plastic stem would fit. The bowl is white and appears to have been heavily used based on the black coloring within it and around the top. The stem, which is yellow in color has some light white marbling. it has a metal tube at the end, which would fit into the bowl.
Unfortunately the stem is loose within the bowl and does not stay in place, but rather moves around. This is the way we found the item and we are selling it as found.
Date: Uncertain but possibly early to mid 1900s
Origin: Purchased at an estate auction in Southeastern Pennsylvania. The piece was probably made somewhere in Europe.
Size: The bowl measures ~3" by 2 1/2" by 1 1/2", while the pipe itself ~6 3/8" long including the stem.
Maker: Unknown
Marks: Unmarked.
Distinguishing Characteristics - Most Interesting About The Piece: Very nice meerschaum bowl, which would make a great addition to any collection.
Condition: The bowl is in very good condition with no breaks, repairs, chips, or cracks that we could find. The bowl was extensively used and has burn marks at the edge of the opening where the tobacco would go as well as on the inside. The bowl also has general soiling and wear signs commensurate with its age and function. The yellow stem is intact and relatively clean. However as we mentioned above it is loose and does not stay in place. We are assuming that it is missing a screw mechanism either in the bowl or at the end of the stem or both. Hence we are selling the item as is. Please see photos for additional condition information as they are part and parcel of our description.
