"Stummel"; Switzerland, c. 1850.

"Stummel"; Switzerland, c. 1850.
Enameled and gilded porcelain.
Measurements: 10 x 3 x 2 cm.
Tobacco bowl made of enameled and gilded porcelain. The piece presents ornamentation that represents the death of the Swiss Arnold von Winkelried in the battle of Sempach. According to legend, at first the Swiss were unable to break through the narrow ranks of the Habsburg pikemen. Winkelried shouted, "I will open a passage in the line; protect, dear countrymen and confederates, my wife and children...". He then threw himself on the Austrian pikes, knocking down some of them with his body. This broke the Austrian front and opened a breach through which the Swiss could attack.
The most famous shape of the porcelain tobacco pipe is the so-called stummel, an oval bowl with a domed heel and a short mouthpiece. The shape was copied from the Gouda clay pipe, but the assembly is completely different, as a long porcelain mouthpiece is not possible. Therefore, these pipes were placed in a buffalo horn or porcelain humidity chamber and then mounted with a vertical mouthpiece of wood or horn.
The stummel is well suited for painting and it is amazing the level of development that painting on porcelain has reached. Since its inception in 1780, meticulous paintings were created, all by hand. Subjects include portraits, gallant depictions, topography and historical scenes. The Meissen factory seems to be the pioneer in the creation of these painted bowls, characterized by endless tufts applied with a fine brush. At the Königliche Porzellan Manufaktur in Berlin, the painting was done with even more realistic realism, resulting in impressive miniature paintings on bowls. To enhance the effect of a real painting, the images were framed with gold leaf. Contemporary prints were used as examples to paint topical subjects that appealed to the consumer of the time. Since the painters worked from the prints, we often see the colors of the scenes differ completely.
The pipe was so common that in many circles it was customary to give a bowl as a gift. In the most prized examples, the subject of the painting matched the interest of the recipient. The names of the donor and the recipient were often read on the back. Especially for students, it was common to paint a family crest as a pipe gift.