PIPE (SMOKING)

A mould-decorated spurless clay tobacco pipe bowl dating from c1860-1910 with raised beaded seams to the bowl. The primary motif on the left hand side of the bowl is a harp while that on the right is a large three lobed leaf, probably intended to represent a shamrock. The large influx of Irish migrants to Britain, particularly as a result of the potato famine of the 1840s onwards, led to a demand for Irish style pipes, of which this is an example. Although a few pipes were imported from Ireland itself, the majority were made by British makers to cater for the demand. A pipe bowl of this particular design has previously been excavated in Chester (CCF 1976; Rutter & Davey 1980, Fig 75.30) and so this second find from the area may indicate that it was actually being made there. The principal pipeworks in Chester at this time was run by William Andrew Boynton and his wife Eliza, who are listed as pipemakers in the local trade directories from 1871-1917 (Rutter & Davey 1980, 230-231).

Length: 30mm; bowl height: 38mm; bowl diameter: 23mm; weight: 13.65g