✅ SOLVED Figural childs pipe?

[Charmin]

Figural child's pipe?

I did some more sifting in my parents yard yesterday and in the first shovel full of dirt I turned out a neat little figural pipe? At least I think that's what it is.....and it has some writing on the side but I can't make it out. It kinda looks like "Germany"? and the figure is a cow(?) or horse(?). Can anyone tell me when these things were made? early 1900's? and were they for children to play with? or was this an actual pipe use to smoke tobacco?

Here's some pictures of the area I've been sifting---it's right next to the cellar and there used to be a fence line that ran along here---I still have quite a bit more to sift!
This is the pipe:

The rest of the finds including a 1905 V nickel, doll parts, marbles, dice, beads, etc...



Thanks for any help!

 

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[surf]

Hello Charmin,

Nice finds! It looks pretty small for tobacco. Could you tell us the dimensions, please, and perhaps show the size of the hole on the stem end? Are there any remnants of color?

I believe it may be a child's bisque bubble pipe. Cracker Jacks had some figural animal bubble pipes as prizes:

1930's Cracker Jack Dog Head Miniature Toy Bubble Pipe Prize Made in Germany

1930's Cracker Jack Miniature Elephant Toy Bubble Pipe

20's Cracker Jack Pink Dogs Head Bisque Toy Bubble Pipe

 

[Charmin]

Hello Charmin,

Nice finds! It looks pretty small for tobacco. Could you tell us the dimensions, please, and perhaps show the size of the hole on the stem end? Are there any remnants of color?

I believe it may be a child's bisque bubble pipe. Cracker Jacks had some figural animal bubble pipes as prizes:

1930's Cracker Jack Dog Head Miniature Toy Bubble Pipe Prize Made in Germany

1930's Cracker Jack Miniature Elephant Toy Bubble Pipe

20's Cracker Jack Pink Dogs Head Bisque Toy Bubble Pipe

Hi Surf! The dimensions on the pipe are 1 1/2" from nose to broken end, and approx. 1" high.
The opening/bowl is approx. 1/4" across. There is no color--unless you count the dirt. It almost feels 'chalky', no glaze left on it.
The hole on the stem end is the size of a matchhead--this is the best picture I can get of the broken part/stem:

Thanks so much for the help! And a bubble pipe would make perfect sense!

 

[woodstock]

Well I bet it's a Opium pipe because to me it's way to detailed to be a child's pipe . During the days when the cross continent railroad's where built there where 1000's of Chinese laborers used to build it . Back then Opium was smoked in den's and was used by many people (non-Chinese) from coast to coast . It was probably lost by one of those Chinese Railroad workers passing through . Opium pipes are very small in the bowl and the stem .. IMHO , Woodstock

 

[kuger]

Well I bet it's a Opium pipe because to me it's way to detailed to be a child's pipe . During the days when the cross continent railroad's where built there where 1000's of Chinese laborers used to build it . Back then Opium was smoked in den's and was used by many people (non-Chinese) from coast to coast . It was probably lost by one of those Chinese Railroad workers passing through . Opium pipes are very small in the bowl and the stem .. IMHO , Woodstock

Opium could not be smoked in such a pipe.....................I have a bit of experience with Chinese lore and especially the study of their smoking habits.They did smoke tobbacco,but generally in the brass pipes that are dug.These are often mis-ided as opium pipes but they are not.Opium was smoked in a pipe with a cooling Damper bowl affixed.A bead of opium,was held over a small hole in the top and heated,the off coming fumes were then inhaled through the long stemmed pipe
It is very similar to the many "Penny Pipe",types used for decades to smoke tobacco.I strongly beleive it is one
http://www.chinesecol.com/treasure6.html

 

[Charmin]

Opium could not be smoked in such a pipe.....................I have a bit of experience with Chinese lore and especially the study of their smoking habits.They did smoke tobbacco,but generally in the brass pipes that are dug.These are often mis-ided as opium pipes but they are not.Opium was smoked in a pipe with a cooling Damper bowl affixed.A bead of opium,was held over a small hole in the top and heated,the off coming fumes were then inhaled through the long stemmed pipe
It is very similar to the many "Penny Pipe",types used for decades to smoke tobacco.I strongly beleive it is one
smoking

I found a similar pipe like mine on ebay: 1930's Cracker Jack Bull Head Miniature Toy Bubble Pipe | eBay
Thanks Kuger and Woodstock......all you guys are so helpful! Appreciate it!

 

[kuger]

Great know!Surf nailed that one!!!Great ID Surf

 

[surf]

Thank you, kuger,

I've had the opium pipe discussion so many times.

For any that are interested, this is an opium pipe:

Opium Museum - Photo Gallery

 

[kuger]

.....seems to be coming up a lot lately!!!

 

[taz42o]

I do not think your pipe looks like a crackerjack toy.

 

[kuger]

I do not think your pipe looks like a crackerjack toy.

...thats what I was thinking too,but I dont know Cracker Jack Prizes
A Miniature Antique Clay Smoking Pipe Bowl is shaped by derbyhouse


also as I said above looks to be made from the same material the "common", pipes were
http://www.nps.gov/fova/historyculture/upload/TobaccoPipes-SMALL.pdf

 

[taz42o]

Heres another very small German pipe.Same markes around the horns.

German Brown Glazed Bull?s Head Miniature Ceramic Pipe | eBay

 

[surf]

I do not think your pipe looks like a crackerjack toy.

Hey taz.

Did you read the description of the item that you posted @ German Brown Glazed Bull?s Head Miniature Ceramic Pipe | eBay

"Very nice miniature pipe that was probably a very early Cracker Jack prize. The pipe is made of ceramic with a brown glaze typically seen in the early 1900s, pre 1916. The pipe was mold made and the bowl is in the form of a bull’s head. The pipe bowl is marked vertically “GERMANY”, suggesting that it was made prior to 1912. These pipes were used as bubble pipes...
Dimensions: Bowl Height 15/16 inch (2.3 cm), Width 5/8 inch (1.6 cm), Length 2 7/8 inches (7.4 cm)."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Okay, kuger,

The first example that you posted from etsy, the seller clearly doesn't know the item:

"I was told that these miniature pipes were actually meant to be used as non-filtered cigarette holders. I suppose that could be true, since the pipe bowl has about the same diameter measurement as a cigarette.

One side of the handle has embossed lettering which reads, "Germany."

I'm unsure of its age, but it's probably 1900s-1930s.

MEASUREMENTS:
Total length: 2-3/4".
Height at dog's head (pipe bowl): just under 1". A Miniature Antique Clay Smoking Pipe Bowl is shaped by derbyhouse

also as I said above looks to be made from the same material the "common", pipes were

The material you're thinking of is Kaolin clay in the case of common smoking pipes. I've found a lot of them. The very oldest ones had tiny bowls, we're talking 16th & early 17th Century examples. These were the days when tobacco was extremely expensive.

The etsy person thinks that someone is going to smoke a cigarette in a pipe that is 2-3/4in. long. I don't think so. This would put a 2000 degree burning ember right in front of one's eye. I smoke cigarettes, still, but would never smoke one in a miniature bubble pipe.

"i just bought a group of cj bubble pipes a monkey, a horse, and 4 dogs. the monkey and the horse are marked japan but the dogs are not. does anyone make repros of these? sorry about the bad pic.
they are of the same material as the others ones." CJCA ? View topic - repro bubble pipe or just not made in japan?

"NOTE:

A very similar item is listed in Larry White's Cracker Jack book as a bubble pipe for $60.00. The book also indicates that it is from the 1930's." 1930's Cracker Jack Lion Head Miniature Toy Bubble Pipe Germany

 

[taz42o]

Yes I read It But the one found is so rough with the seam and no glaze .I thought maybe an American reproduction of one of those German pipes? It just seems to rough to be a cracker jack toy. But I dont know I cant find a match.

 

[kuger]

Great info,and support as well.Kaolin!!I sat here scratching my head trying to remember that!!!Had to Google,"White Clay"...duh!
I digress....and kudo's from me again....for what its worth

 

[surf]

Hey taz,

The pink and yellow ones that I posted photos of above, are not glazed, but color washed. Being buried for 80 to 100 years has a tendency to remove, or alter colors on unglazed pottery, in my experience.

I believe a box of Cracker Jack cost a nickel or a dime in the Twenties & Thirties. I first had Cracker Jack in the Fifties, and remember the prizes being a bit "rough" in some instances.