Trying to date very early colonial pipe bowl

[Bill D. (VA)]

A friend of mine found this at a site that's produced quite a few hammered coins going back to the 1500s. The bowl is unlike any I've seen personally or in reference books, although I did see some similar but much smaller ones from the early days of Jamestown. But the bowl seems to be much larger than those characteristically found on the early pipes. Appreciate if you could point me to a reference source that can date this pipe. It's the large bowl in the top center of the pic.

 

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[Bill D. (VA)]

<img src="http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=735787"/>

I have that info and nothing on there comes close to a match.

 

[Red James Cash]

Measure the diameter of the stem draw hole,use small drill bits until you find one that fits,but dont force it.I have a book that lists the years of manufacture from the diameter of the draw hole in pipe stems,i just have to remember what book its in.Just post the diameter and i'll take a look.

 

[Bill D. (VA)]

Measure the diameter of the stem draw hole,use small drill bits until you find one that fits,but dont force it.I have a book that lists the years of manufacture from the diameter of the draw hole in pipe stems,i just have to remember what book its in.Just post the diameter and i'll take a look.

I've used that method many times but I was more concerned with the odd shape of the bowl as I've never seen it before. Would like to see a matching pic on a website or in a book.

 

[Red James Cash]

You might have some luck here Pipe Smoking

 

[bearbob2]

Just wondering have you looked at native american pipes. The bowl looks the correct style for some of the indian pipes I ahve seen in the past but not 100% sure?

 

[Silver Searcher]

The style is a clasic 17thC ball Clay Pipe. The unique qualities of ball clay are derived from the processes involved in its formation. Ball clay is sedimentary kaolinitic clay which fires to a white colour, and because of its plastic properties can be easily moulded into a desired shape which it maintains when dry
It was dug out in lumps 9 to 10 inches square, weighing 30 to 35 pounds, known as "balls". The slightly off colour is due to it being in the ground.

SS