Featured Magical Mystery Pipe

Good day to all you wise and like minded peoples!
I bought this beautiful pipe contained in a box of many wonderful mystery items about 40 years ago. The items there in dated from around 1940 back to the 1700's, hence I have no idea how old it is as there are no makers marks on either the pipe or the case it was in.
In my many years of researching this pipe I have only come across 2 other pipes with a similar inlaid silver design but had totally different shapes. Strangely enough in both cases the owners had no idea of the history, where they came from or who had made it.
The pipe has been used and has an unbroken amber tip.
I would love to find out a little history about this item so if someone can help me out or point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!

 

stunning bent pipe...
likely briar with a bakelite stem....

you may never know who did the inlay as it likely is a one off artisan piece...

 

Wow that is really interesting! I have my dad's old pipe collection but he didn't have anything as lovely as this!

 

What a nice looking piece!!!
Look for Bidriware...
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bidriware

 

Nice call kyratango. I think the best you are going to get is which region it mostly likely came from India is a good possibility.

 

After thinking about it a little longer , I am wondering if it might not be from Turkey or that region. India makes water pipes but i have never seen any of the natives from india smoking a pipe like yours. The Turks do smoke and make meerschaum pipes shaped like yours- I know because my Dad bought many while we were there and they do a great deal of delicate silver inlay .

 

I'm with kyra, Bidri ware.

There have been Europeans in India ever since Alexander the Great, and Indians have no problem making items for export.

 

The Bidri ware hookahs are insane-another thing to look for !

 

That was my first impression as well - the inlaid design looks like bidri. But the bowl appears to be wood (too hot to hold if it was metal). Technically, bidri is a technique of inlaying silver on an alloy of zinc and copper, followed by a special method of patination to create the dark contrast with the bright silver. Is it still considered bidri if it is on wood?

 

You're right, in the last photo I can see some brown, so wood it is. Given the resemblance to Bidri ware and the similarity to Bidri designs, I suspect it was made in Bidar or in one of the regions that make related wares.

 

Thanks everyone again! Excellent feedback and I shall delve deeper into it when I have some time later today and let you know my findings.

 

I’m late. I agree it’s Indian, probably Raj era and made for a Brit. The style is very Bidri.

 

Found this one today that looks very similar in flower design. they state "Rare briar pipe decorated with fine silver inlay.This type of silver work was done in Livno in what is now Bosnia and Herzegovina. The briar pipe itself is most likely French."
https://www.catawiki.com/en/l/23065...ilver-inlay-briar-pipe-briar-silver-vulcanite

 

I just searched a few sites about Livno, but there was no mention of silver inlay or 'embroidery'. Not even an exhibit in the local museums, as far as I can tell.

 

Yes Kyro I must agree that the design is Bidri art and found some almost identical floral designs but again nothing in wood. It's funny how they made it look black like the metalware. The Livno pipe design is somewhat similar and thanks for that heads up Lark, but like AJ, I can't find anything like it.
I'm thinking it might have commissioned by an Englishman during the occupation as most of the items in the box were from England pre 1940.
I might just go to the source of Bidri art and ask a few questions.
Thanks again folks for your help and ideas!

 

There’s an awful lot of commissioned British India stuff out there. Generally very nice stuff too.

 

the box is made to match the pipe.....any markings on it ?

 

Nope, none at all. Checked the clasps of course. Looks like it was definitely made for it though.