Walnut pipe case with brass mounts
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1700-1720
This pipe case was made of walnut with brass mounts, probably in the Netherlands between 1700 and 1720 by an unknown maker. It measures 28 cm in length, with an outside bowl height of 7.5 cm and an inside bowl height of 6.1 cm. Constructed in two pieces consisting of a lid and a main body, the case was shaped to accommodate a relatively short clay tobacco pipe.
The design features a tapered stem section with a circular cross-section leading to a brass sleeve engraved with rings and lines at the mouthpiece end, where a ventilation hole is located. The bowl compartment displays a pronounced forward sweep and is edged with a brass strip secured with tacks. The underside lid includes a spur with two small holes and is secured by a brass hinge-plate on top and a brass snap closure. Inside the lid is a paper label inscribed 'P.C 3 (22)'.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
During the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, protective wooden cases were developed to carry fragile clay tobacco pipes outdoors. While long pipes were commonly smoked at home or in inns, shorter pipes could be carried in a pocket. The hinged lid accommodated pipes with a protective heel spur, which became common after 1690. This case was given to the museum in November 1928 by collector W. Sanders Fiske.
Identification
- Source note
- Transcribed from the Victoria and Albert Museum collection record for this single object; how far it represents a wider collectible type has not been independently verified.
- Museum object name
- Pipe case
- Museum object number
- W.151-1928
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.