Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-03-26
Amber and Mesrschaum.

Within the last thirty years, the am
Der and meerschaum industry of Aus
tria has grown from a small beginnin,
to an independent and special branch
which is at present capable Of producin,
excellent results, so that goods of grea
beauty and excellent quality are sold a
comparatively low prices. The manu-
facture of articles from amber and
meerschaum, is chiefly concentrated il
Vienna, although very respectable
representatives of this branch can bt
pointed to in other large cities in that
Empire.
1t is scarcely credible how wonder.
fully these two substances can be
wrought, and what variety of different
articles can be made from them, simple
or complex in form, and all in excellent
taste and elegantly made. 1t is only
necessary to cast glance into the show
cases of the large Vienna amber and
meerschaum firms, In order to obtain an
idea OF the numerous elegant and artls-
tic articles of magnificent workmanship
that catch the eye Of the passer-by and
lnyOluntariiy invite purchase.
First OF all in elegance and variety is
the immense collection of neat and
elegant cigar-holders, of the simplest,
as well as the most fantastic shapes.
While in former years the magnificent
pipes ruled the day, at present, when
cigars and cigarettes are used by nearly
all civilized people, they are almost
entirely superseded by cigar and cigar
ette holders. In addition to a variety
OF palmer figures, there are veiled We
muses., sleeping Cupids, Indians with
amber lances, jockeys with their horses,
etc., also heads Of women, of Zouaves,
and OF Bedouins, and we are astOnished
at the thousands Of ways of combining
these substances, amber and meer-
schaum, and no less at the artistic de-
sign and execution of the articles.
Equally varied is the collection of
meerschaum pipes, that must enchant
every passionate smoker. We see there
the Dublin pipe of amber and meer-
schaum, the Albert, the Rigolbouche,
the Irish, and the Belgian pipes; also
the curved London and French pipes.
and the Suez Canal pipes mounted in
silver, meerschaum hand-pipes with
eggs, serpents, fruit, etc., all neatly
and taStefully cut in mserschaum.
Then, there are the celebrated Turkish
pipes, both fiat and pointed, and a
legion of pipes ornamented with char
acter heads and other carvings. Then |
the never-failing artistic objects with |
which large pipes are ornamented, |
carved in larger dimensions. Cigar |
holders ornamented with initials,
or whole names, sell well. |
We must also state, that, like meer-
amber is used alone, or both
together are used as smokers articles.
I or many years past a new mass called
Artificial meerschaum has been made
rom the chips and turnings Of genuine
and at present it is largely
employed.
Amber is distinguished for its re-
fine color, and like meer-
chaum it is turned on the lathe, filed,
.ut and sawed, and from this expensive
magnificent ornaments are
made, such As necklaces, earrings,
'ins, brooches, and bracelets; also
articles, especially mouth
'ieces and cigar holders, and also coral,
ups, saucers, wreaths, etc.
Austria imports both of these raE
and meerschaum-in
cry large quantities, the former mostly
rom Danzig, the latter chiefly from
Russia in Asia Minor. The quantity
t raw material imported, as well as of
nished goods exported, is simply
n Jrmous.