Exceptional, Elaborately Carved Civil War Folk Art Pipe Identifying Significant Generals & Battles

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Property of N. Flayderman & Co., Plus Selecte...

By Cowan's Auctions

Feb 21, 2017 - Feb 22, 2017

Set Reminder 2017-02-21 10:00:00 2017-02-22 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Property of N. Flayderman & Co., Plus Selected Additions https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/cowans/property-of-n-flayderman-co-plus-selected-additions-2104
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• Lot Description

  Folk art pipe carved from a single piece of dark wood. The bowl section very elaborately carved on the front with a high relief open work oval wreath surrounding a very high relief, small eagle, wings downward. A twisted riband is carved along the wreath, and with each twist where it rounds the front of the wreath, the riband bears a different carving of a US Army Corps insignia. The eagle stands on a small, flat platform-like structure (all integral with the carving), with the front edge of it carved in the shape of a chain that has broken at its center, representing the split between the north and south. Around the top of the bowl is a very narrow etching of German silver (or brass). At the top of the bowl, on its left side, the name Kearney is relief carved, and the name Lyons / US is relief carved on the right side.

  Both the left and right side of the bowl have a large oval relief carved panel with a silver plated brass (possibly silver) plaque beautifully inscribed in highly professional engraving. The names of Civil War generals are relief carved on the oval panel “frame-like” carvings. The names of Sickles / Mead / Hooker / Gilmore are carved on the left side. Below that oval panel carving with plaque is a small, high relief figure of a soldier. The oval silver plaque at center is engraved with the names of ten very well known Civil War battles including Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Gains Mill, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill, Antietam, Cedar Mountain, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg.

  The bowl's right side also features a relief, oval carved plaque bearing the relief carved names of Burnside / Rosecrans / Grant / Banks. Below that panel, at the bottom of the bowl, a very small relief carved depiction of a Civil War artillery man stands by a cannon and carriage. The oval silver plaque at center is engraved with additional Civil War battles including Island No. 10, Fort Donelson, Vicksburg, Port Hudson, Stone River, Lookout Mt., Knoxville, Chattanooga.

  The large tapered stem made integral with the bowl has decorative relief carving at its bottom appearing as if snakes are wrapped around it. The large, high relief ring (integral) carved at center bears names of three Civil War generals (also relief carved), Stoneman / Grierson / Buford. Just above that relief ring is a flat small panel with incised carving, which appears to be the name Corcoran (although this is difficult to verify). Upper section of the integral stem above that ring also very elaborately carved on all sides, with an integral small, standing eagle in high relief. The eagle's beak rests on very large, fully relief carved open work letters, Union. Its left side includes the very high relief carved name, McClellan, and on its right side, the name Sumner is carved in very high relief. Reverse side of the stem in that same section opposite where the eagle is fitted on the front side, is a full standing figure of a Civil War soldier in very high relief, carrying a rifle in his left arm. Behind the soldier is a very high relief carved American flag, with Our Flag incised carved at the foot of the soldier. The upper part of stem carved in high relief with leaf and branch and slight floral motifs.

  The very bottom of the bowl, which looks flat from the side view, is actually another integral carved shield shaped panel, all etched in German silver with its upper section (facing downward) featuring a high relief carved (integral) “Monitor” type Naval vessel with a round turret at its center and the rough design in the far distant background representing two fortresses and a harbor. The lower section below the carved naval vessel includes a silver plated plaque beautifully engraved in a highly professional manner, Butler, Farragut, over a fancy script inscription in three lines, Sumter, New Orleans, / Hampton Roads / Roanoke Island. The hinged cover above the bowl is wooden with four small round piercings at its center. It is edged in silver plated / finished German silver or brass, with a very large silver (silver plated) horseshoe inset on the top of the lid. The reverse side of that cover with the hinge (also silver) is affixed to a very fancy shaped triangular matching silver plaque (acting as the base of the hinge), engraved in script and bold black letters, Pea Ridge, over bold black letters Sigel.

  Overall length, including small 2 in. mouthpiece, 10 in.; pipe bowl section (in front) approx. 4 in. high, dia. 1.75 in.

  The most elaborate Civil War carved pipe in Mr. Flayderman's collection!

  
  
  Provenance: N. Flayderman and Co., Inc.

  Condition

  Loss to one of the carved eagle's wings. Some tarnish on silver panels. Overall an impressive pipe. 
• Shipping Info

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• Buyer's Premium

  • Hammer Price	Premium (%)
    $0	28.00
    $250,001	23.00
    $3,000,001	15.00