Pipe Dreams and Trading Schemes

A study of the decorations on tobacco pipes and trading patterns at Cocumscussoc

A History of Colonial Pipes

• Tobacco smoking first became popular in England around the 1570s

• Spanish were familiar almost 100 years before, with from natives in South American colonies

Distribution of Pipes

• The clay tobacco pipe industry developed in many local areas throughout England and the Netherlands around the early part of the 17th century

• Most pipes were distributed locally• Port towns and cities allowed for

overseas trading, bringing clay pipes to the North American colonies.

• Early pipes have a short stem with a large bore diameter and a small "acorn" shaped, rouletted bowl that angled away from the smoker.

• Throughout the 17th century, stems became longer, bore sizes smaller and bowl sizes larger.

• By the early 18th century, pipes developed into a larger straight-sided form with no rouletting around the rim and the bowl perpendicular to the stem.

Pipe Popularity

• Clay pipes were extremely inexpensive, resulting in all social and economic classes owning and disposing of them

• Clay pipes were typically broken and discarded within 1-2 years

Dating Sites with Pipes

• Clay tobacco pipes are excellent artifacts for dating colonial sites because they’ve undergone definitive stylistic changes over its history of production.

Pipe Material

• Pipes have been found made of– silver, brass, pewter, iron, and lead

• But clay was the primary material pipes were made from until the end of the 19th century– White clay: kaolin

Pipes at Cocumscussoc

• Over 800 fragments

• 131 decorated fragments

• 42 decorated stem fragments

• 89 decorated bowl or heel fragments

Methods

• Initial sort by unit and levels

• Sort by pipe bowl fragments and pipe stem fragments

• Sort by designed pieces

Maker’s Marks

• Identifying maker’s mark allows: – place of origin– the date range

within which it was made

– a basic time frame for when the pipe was deposited

Two Main Categories of Makers Marks

• Relief Marks-Form a raised mark on the pipe

-Either stamped with a die or incorporated into the pipe mould

• Incuse Marks

-Form a negative impression on the pipe

-Either stamped with a die or applied by a similar device across which the stem was rolled

Two Main Categories of Makers Marks

• Relief Marks-Form a raised mark on the pipe-Either stamped with a die or

incorporated into the pipe mould

• Incuse Marks-Form a negative impression on

the pipe-Either stamped with a die or

applied by a similar device across which the stem was rolled

Exception to the Rule

• The Chesapeake pipe bearing the initials DK

- The pipemaker used a hand held tool to produce the rouletted initials and other decorative designs

Time Ranges Derived from Makers Marks

• First half of the 17th century: (true for English and Dutch pipes)

-predominantly stamped on the heel

• Second half of the 17th century:- makers marks are still found on the heel, but can also be found

on the stems and backs of bowls

• End of the 17th century to the third quarter of the 18th century:

• -makers marks are most commonly seen in the form of either a moulded cartouche on the right or left side of the bowl, initials moulded into the sides of the heel/spur, or as an abbreviated mane stamped on the stem.

Dutch vs. English Pipes

• Dutch pipes in the later 17th century are distinguished from the English pipes not only by their bowl shape and the presence of rouletting around the rim, but also because pipemakers continued to mark their pipes on the heel, often using miniscule marks.

“PE”

• Incuse. Stamped on heel.

• Mark identified as Philip Edwards of Bristol

• (1649/50 - 1668-9)

“WE”

• Incuse. • Mark identified as

William Evans, Bristol pipemaker.

• William Evans I (1660-82); William Evans II (1667-82).

“LE”

• Incuse.

• Mark identified as Bristol pipemaker Llewellin Evans (1661-86).

“RT”• Incuse. • Mark attributed to

Robert Tippett II, Bristol pipemaker (1678-1713)

“W” - base of heel

“T-” - side of bowl

“TD” - side of bowl

“CD” - on heel

“W” - side of heel

“B”

“EB”Relief.

Mark attributed to Edward Bird, Dutch pipemaker (produced 1630-1665)

“W-” - side of bowl

“T-” - side of bowl

“T” - side of bowl

“L” - side of bowl

“-VE” - side of bowl

Influence of Egyptian Sun

• The Egyptian sun god motif of a ball upon wings inspired many European artwork

• Found and evolved upon many sculptures, artwork, and gravestones

• “T-[W?]” maker unidentified - probably later period

Pipe Decorations

• Pipe decorations are not as readily identifiable to makers and locations as maker’s marks

• Yet Cocumscussoc has a great many decorations, indicating an abundance of trade and wealth

Heel Decoration

• Many heel bases served as places for maker’s marks

• However, this piece has a flower pattern on the heel

• Oftentimes the Tudor rose was found here

Roulette

• Rouletting was one of the most common forms of decoration on both pipe bowls and stems

• Has been found on fragments from 1600s-1900s

• Less common post-18th century however

Bowl Roulettes

• Rouletting was most common along the rims of pipe bowls

• Mostly incused like maker’s marks, rolled along the rim

Stem Roulettes• The Roulette

tool: Pipe maker’s usually used a rouletting tool to produce this effect, which was like an engraving wheel or cylinder

• Produced repetitive decoration.

• Examples of “mistakes” on stems

Fleur de Lis

• The Fleur-de-lys was originally named the “fleur-de-Louis”, after Louis VII, in 1147 A.D.

• Evolved to “fleur-de-lys” which means, “flower of the lily”.

• Incorporated often in coat-of-arms, a frequent pipe decoration, often placed in diamonds

Floral Decorations

• Floral patterns were indicative of slightly more expensive pipes

• Often part of vast reliefs across bowl or stem

• Elaborate

Lines as Decorations

• Often used as simple decoration on pipes

• Perhaps the fragments from Cocumscussoc are part of larger decorations on bowls

Other Interesting Finds

Modified Mouthpiece

Possible Whistle?

Red Clay Pipes

Black Clay Pipe

19th Century - Black Clay

"the moment a man takes to a pipe, he becomes a philosopher. It's the

poor man's friend; it calms the mind, soothes the temper, and makes a

man patient under difficulties. It has made more good men, good

husbands, kind masters, indulgent fathers, than any other blessed thing

on this blessed earth.” - from “Sam Slick, the Clockmaker”

by Thomas C. Haliburton (1796-1865)

Fin.

Mary Blauss and Rosie Hilmer-Heartte