Original Item: One-of-a-Kind. This is a very nice tobacco pipe, most likely owned by a Boatswain (Bosun) in the British Royal Navy. It features a delicate root wood ball shaped bowl, mounted with white metal to a horn stem ending in a black horn mouthpiece. It is marked DEPOSE on both sides of the bottom fitting near the ball, a known French maker of pipes. There is a small chain on the bottom of the pipe, probably more for ornamentation than function, though it does retain the end “ball” when removed for cleaing. It measures about 7 1/2 inches in overall length.
The pipe is contained in a hard leather covered pipe carrier that has a “fouled anchor” inlaid into the surface. A fouled anchor is a British symbol for the Royal Navy of an Anchor partially entwined with a rope, hence “fouled Anchor”. The case has a functional closure catch and hinge, and is lined with very nice purple fabric.
From looking at this it suggests it was intended for more than just tobacco, nevertheless this is a splendid example probably originating in the Far East circa 1820. Very nice and ready to display!