Tobacco pipe, stem and mouthpiece; Germany, 1830- 1880.

Tobacco pipe, stem and mouthpiece; Germany, 1830- 1880.
Enameled porcelain, gilt metal, wood and bone.
Presents restoration.
Measurements: 8 x 12,5 x 4,5 cm; 40 cm (length).
This tobacco pipe is a decorative and functional piece characteristic of central Europe in the 19th century, particularly in the German region. It is composed of an enameled porcelain bowl depicting a uniformed soldier or hunter, seated on a stump, an image typically associated with the rural and nationalistic romanticism of the period. The meticulously painted figure exhibits expressive details on the face, clothing and accessories, suggesting high quality craftsmanship.
The long, slender stem is made of dark wood, assembled with gilded metal segments that serve both a structural and ornamental function. A decorative string holds the segments together, possibly as reinforcement or ornamentation. The slightly curved mouthpiece is made of carved bone or ivory, designed to facilitate prolonged use.

Pipes, in particular, have been considered true pieces of art and material testimony of epochs and styles. Made of various materials, many of them reflect the aesthetics, technology and values of the societies that produced them. Their careful manufacture and ornamental design turned some of them into luxury objects.
Today, beyond the debate surrounding tobacco consumption and its effects, pipes represent a field of interest for collectors, anthropologists and museologists. Their value lies not only in their rarity or antiquity, but in what they reveal about everyday practices, the evolution of industrial design and the history of consumption.