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Pipe bowl with three males and a monster

A unique design with an unexpected detail could be the definition for this exclusive porcelain tobacco pipe. Around a beaker shaped pipe bowl the designer modeled three human faces, each sharing the neighbors' eye. The three faces were given their own identity by a smile or an open mouth showing their teeth. But those who look better will distinguish a fourth face, that of a monster, quite ironically mainly visible for the smoker. With its open mouth with dangerous teeth this creature bites in the pipe stem and its nose is hidden in the angle between bowl and stem. Also this animal shares its eyes with the neighbors, and being far from each other, underlines the monster figure. All together a very special pipe bowl with a intriguing round going decoration.

This unexpected design was executed by Johann Gottlieb Ehder, modeler of the famous Königlichen Sächsischen Porzellan Manufaktur in the town of Meissen. As the factory archives have been preserved, we were able to read that this pipe bowl was designed in June of the year 1743. The world famous master-modeler Johann Joachim Kändler, Ehders' teacher, added this design in his work book. He also noted that he made some refinements to the bowl that Ehder produced, unforutately we do not know what he did.

From the new born design a plaster mold was made and thereafter the production was launced. After the modeling of the object it was backed and glazed. Thereafter the colors were applied that gave the faces their own identity. The painter did not hesitate to add a small beard or a little moustache to differentiate the faces. Altogether an excellent piece of craftsmanship executed with great care and painted in a subtle way. At the Meissen factory the production of such a piece meant no more than about a dozen copies because there were only a few customers who could afford such a luxurious pipe.

This tobacco pipe must have been a precious item at that time. The beautiful porcelain paste and the exquisite way of glazing and painting prove that. It is also underlined by the luxurious silver fitting. The bowl is covered with a dome shaped lid with openings to let the air come in the pipe, round the stem a ring is placed that connects by means of a silver chain the bowl with the separate stem. The pipe stem is made out of buffalo horn and consists in two parts that screw together. The result is a useful pipe with an attractivly bent in its stem.

After more than 250 years the pipe is still together with its original gift box, a cassette that is a piece of art in itself. The box is rectangular with truncated corners, the lid is slightly bulbous. On the outside it is covered with green shagreen, the interior shows three compartments in red velvet. The interior of the lid is covered with reddish silk. It is obvious that the box and the precious contents were almost considered as jewels at that time.

In the seventeen forties the figural tobacco pipe was becoming popular as a luxurious item, not only at the Meissen factory, also in other places. Nevertheless, they were always precious items, more as a gift to royal s and nobility, unaffordable for the common smoker. These kind of pipes were carefully smoked during a certain period of time but thereafter kept as an art object and often exhibited in a show case. So it is normal that from most of these inventions only a few items survive. From this example a second copy can be found in the Regensburg museum, with identical shape originating from the same mould but with a different painting.

Due to the beautiful modeling, the fine painting and the luxurious way of packing this tobacco pipe stands far above most other specimens. Its rarity and art value makes that collectors and museum curators are keen to add these examples to their collection. However, it can take generations before such a pieces comes to the market. As for this pipe, a third one has not yet been discovered; perhaps this writing helps us to find the third copy.

Amsterdam, Pijpenkabinet collections Pk 15.078