American Face Pipe, Grant Presidential Clay Trade Pipe, 1865-1870

American Face Pipe, Grant Presidential Clay Trade Pipe, 1865-1870 - Inventory Number: CAM 615

This pipe was made by John Taber, New Hampshire, 1865-1870

John Taber Sr. probably made pipes in Alfred, Maine, from about 1840 to 1845 and in Wells, Maine, from about 1845 to1860. John Taber Jr. was first listed as a tobacco pipe maker in 1850 in Rochester, New York. By 1851-53 he began manufacturing in Wolfeboro in four different locations: Endicott Street-Wolfeboro, Beaver Brook – East Alton, The Taber Mill on Mink Brook – South Wolfeboro, and at The Pipe Shop on Mink Brook – South Wolfeboro.

There are at least three known molds of the Grant pipe. Ulysses S. Grant was an American soldier and politician who served as the 18th president of the United States from 1869 to 1877. Before his presidency, Grant led the Union Army as Commanding General of the United States Army in winning the American Civil War. President Grant won two terms, defeating Horatio Seymore in 1868 and Horace Greeley in 1872.

This pipe was made and distributed from 1865-1870. There are at least three known molds of this pipe.

Short stemmed clay pipes in earth colors with various kinds of detachable stems have been referred to as stub stemmed, reed stemmed, terra cotta, Shaker, and “stummelpfeifen”. An intriguing subcategory of this group is the anthropomorphic, figural, or “face” pipe.

Anthropomorphic clay tobacco pipe production began in America in the 18th Century. The subcategory of U.S. president pipes is intriguing due to their political nature, the fact that they are meant to represent specific people, and until recently, the question of where they were produced. These pipes have been recovered from archaeological sites across the country, ranging from small fragments to intact pipes. For decades, the source of a particular group of these pipes has been widely speculated upon since they had not been recovered from any of the known U.S. pipe factory sites or waste dumps. Although they are widely referred to as “President Pipes”, it seems that they should more correctly be referred to as “Campaign Pipes”. However, this nomenclature is not entirely suitable since some of these pipes, particularly for President Washington, are commemorative in nature.

A wonderful example excavated in Wolfeboro, NH.

*To purchase this item directly with a credit card, please click on this link.

Inventory Number: CAM 615