Pipe [MPS-4245, Tower Pipe Exhibition]
A “Hungarian”-style pipe bowl, so-called “Millennium Pipe.” Made of meerschaum, carved throughout. The fittings and the chimney cap are made of alpaca. The pipe is signed with the initials J.K. – probably by the Kopp factory, made in Budapest in 1896. The bowl is decorated with a raised relief depicting a scene of a battle between the Hungarians and the Turks – probably the Battle of Mohács. A significant revival in Hungarian pipe-making occurred in the mid-1890s, when Hungarians celebrated the millennium of their statehood. A series of “Millennium Pipes” was created at that time. The decoration of these pipes was modeled on the works of Hungarian masters. The most common subjects were battle scenes or important historical figures for Hungary, such as Saint Stephen. The pipe was donated to the museum in 1931.
The pipe head is a Hungarian-style pipe, the so-called “millennium pipe,” made by J. Kopp, Budapest 1896. Carved, embossed, sepiolite, alpaca. Dimensions: height 10.7 cm, length 14 cm. Collections of the National Museum of the Przemyśl Region in Przemyśl. Sepiolite is a white, lightweight mineral, commonly known as “sea foam.” Sepiolite is easily worked after soaking. The mineral does not conduct heat, making it ideal for pipe-making. The sepiolite pipe head consists of a vertical section—the chimney—and a laterally projecting neck. The entire surface of the chimney is carved. The upper section features a ring with a floral pattern. Below is a carved battle scene. Two groups of warriors on horseback are depicted facing each other. On the left, three figures in Ottoman costumes, and on the left, three helmeted figures holding round shields. At the top of the fireplace is a semicircular metal cover – the so-called cap. The cap has four decorative smoke holes. The cylindrical neck widens towards the tip. At its end, a metal-trimmed hole with a decorative frill is visible. The underside of the neck features a floral pattern. Hungarian “millennium” pipes became popular in the mid-1890s, when Hungarians celebrated the millennium of their statehood.