Topic: How to date a pipe ?

[keith]

18 inches long a few nibbles to the rim, not a clue about this,

[Paul S.]

not a clue - perhaps you should ask the Three Nuns

But seriously - if you look in Keith Vincent's 'Nailsea Glass', only one of the seventeen that he shows (page 42) has an everted upper bowl shape like yours .........  it reminds me of the 'thistle shape' found on some Scottish drinking glasses (E. & L. for example).
Most bowls showing in Vincent's book are shaped typical, with an incurved rim, and with the combed loops type of decoration 

Since these things are - presumably - only every decorative, then you won't find wear, and will have to rely on finding a match (forgive the pun) somewhere that carries a date.

The general shape of yours Keith together with bobbins, flaring, curve and coloured rim are all features found on period pipes, although for all I know they may well have been made on and off since the early C19.

Very nice by the way.

[keith]

Thanks Paul, don't know any nuns, will the vicar do ?  will look further, ta,

[glass man]

Here in the states it may be in the 2 books of "glass Whimsies". Like glass canes the are not made to be used. Bob

[chopin-liszt]

It's the sort of thing I would consider to be a real frigger - a piece made to "show off" the skills of the maker.
So much prettier when it's a small and delicate one, such as this is, than the enormous clodhopping ones.

[keith]

Bob, don't think I'll take up pipe smoking 
Sue, it's so thin I was sure it would break before I got back, have a small cheroot holder ,somewhere ! 

[KevinH]

I use mine !!! ....
http://glassgallery.yobunny.org.uk/displayimage.php?pos=-1397

And my pipe, with it's "Nailsea style" pulls also has an everted (or rolled) rim to the "thistle shape" bowl. I have always considered mine to be mid 19th century.

[chopin-liszt]

Quite a spectacular and beautiful "clodhopper", Kev. 

[keith]

  That's a whopper !

[KevinH]

For the record, decent photos of my pipe are shown below.

It is 18.5 inch (46.5 cm) measured straight across from tip to far edge of bowl.
Measured along its full length, it is 26 inch (66 cm).

The rim of the bowl is actually formed by a wrap of clear glass to the outside of the rim. The clear glass wrap folds very slightly over the edge of the rim giving a tiny ridge that is not fully noticeable. But over the years, the edge of the rim has become slightly rough with minor chipping.

Edited to add: When I said earlier that the bowl of my pipe was also "thistle shaped" - well, it isn't really. At least, not like Keith's example!!