Tobacco pipe; Givet; France, c. 1870.

Tobacco pipe; Givet; France, c. 1870.
White clay partially polychrome.
Presents stamp and signature of the manufacture: Gambier à Paris (Maison Gambier).
Measurements: 10 x 7 x 8 cm.
Tobacco pipe with a figurative bowl representing the bust of a queen. The Maison Gambier, founded by Jean Gambier in Givet towards the end of the 18th century, established itself as one of the most outstanding manufacturers of clay pipes in Europe during the 19th and 20th centuries. With an estimated production of up to two billion units between 1850 and 1926. Jean Gambier, a native of Dieppe, moved to Givet in 1780. From traditional Dutch models, his son Joseph Gambier introduced stylistic and technical innovations in 1817, developing his own designs that gave the pieces a distinctive character. It was then that the pipes began to adopt figurative shapes.
In 1835, the company was acquired by Minervin Hasslauer, who expanded the production capacity and boosted its international commercial projection with offices in Paris and London. The use of bronze, cast iron or aluminum molds allowed for a remarkable sculptural quality, evidenced in the variety of subjects: portraits of historical and contemporary figures, animals, mythological and allegorical motifs and scenes from everyday life. The most emblematic model, Jacob, was launched in 1834 and was recognized for its functional and cartoonish design.