The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-14
MEERSCHAUM CARVING.
1T is A DIFFICULT AND ALMOST UN-
KNOWN ART IN AMERICA.


and His Business-How He Proceeds.
There's curious little tobacco store on
bne of the leading South End thorough
fares. 1t has been there for many years,
and is so small that one might pass by
hundred times without ever noticing 1t.
The door opening into this little shop Is
Just of the sidewalk, and suspended over
the door is large gilded wooden pipe,
which serves as a sign 10 indicate the char
acter of the place.
While sauntering down the street the
other afternoon the writer's attention was
attracted to this little shop by noticing two
or three men gazing interestedly into its
narrow window, and he paused to see what
they were admiring Being interested in
neerschaum pipes, the young newspaper
man thought he would like to look more
closely at some OF those in the display. So
he opened the door and stepped into the
place.
II was curious little room, perhaps -
feet long by or S feet wide, and near the
door was small showcase, one end OF
which contained few boxes Of cigars and
the rest was filled with pipes, mostly OF
meerSchaum, many Of them in very odd
patterns. The shelves behind the showcase
were piled high with all kinds of smokers
articles and small boxes containing pieces
Of raw meerschaum and amber.
THE SHOP.
And on the opposite wall were hung sew
ersl very quaint pictures. At the back OF
the shop was small lathe with u foot
pedal, and beside il was kit Of tools pc
Culiar to the work of pipe making At this
lathe the proprietor OF the place WAS indus
triously working on piece OF amber, 70 DO
used as the mouthpiece Of u pipe, aud he
looked up Is the door opened and the young
man approached him When meerschaum
carving WAS spoken Of he became enthusi-
astic, and was very willing to talk,
Did you make those pipes Ia the win
dow" was asked.
Yes, sir; and those in the showcase, too.
But those pipes are quite plain beside some
Of the carving have done There is very
little meerschaum carving done in Boston,
and, in fact, there are but few first class
artists in meerschaum in this country,
and even those came from some foreign
place There are 3 good many workmen
here who cut plain pipes cut Of meer-
schaum, because that work, like any other
trade, can be acquired; but in order for
man TO do any fine carving he must be
born artist In this country men learn
only a part Of trade, but where came
from q young man is obliged to learn his
trade from beginning to end.
My father was turner to the king Of
Prussia, and so, you see, hemust have been
fine artist. Ny brother and myself were
brought up in the art Of carving, and my
brother was the finest carver ever saw,
either in meerschaum or wood. | wish you
could see some examples Of his work. How
ever, will show you some specimens of
carving that have made, and try and tell
you what you want to know.
SOAKING THE MEERSCHAUM.
When an order comes for pipe some
times have to look through an entire box
TO find piece of meerschaum that will suit
the design l wish TO make. Ithen soak the
piece in cold water until it sinks, which
will take from fifteen TO twenty minutes.
then saw the block as near as possible to
the size required, so as not to waste the
meerschaum, and rough out the pipe with
knife. Placing the block on the lathe
cut the plain part of the pipe, and bore the
stem to the bowl. II the pipe is to be carved
lay it away until thoroughly dried.
The meerschaum has to be hard in order
TO carve it. When the carving is completed
the pipe is boiled in beeswax and then
polished. After the amber stem has been
Inserted the pipe is finished and ready for
the customer. 1t is not generally known,
but meerschaum pipe would never color
80 beautifully if it were not boiled in wax.
AN ordinary meerschaum pipe can be
made in three days, but if it is to be carved
OF course 90 specified time can be stated.
An artist might be many weeks, or even
months, on single pipe"
do you have many orders for elaborate
designs?"
"Not so many as l used to have years ago
suppose if had a nice store down town
should get more orders for fine work. But
Americans who can afford to pay several
hundred dollars for beautiful piece Of
meerschaum carving will, as a rule, buy it
abroad, oftentimes az a souvenir Of some
country which they have visited. have
been in this country over twenty years, and
at first worked for the largest meerschaum
dealer in New York. a first class artist
can carve meerschsGm into almost any con
ceivable design.
II haven't any very large specimens Of
my work here now. but here are q few
small ones which think will interest you"
EXQUISITE EXAMPLES.
An exquisitely carved pipe represented a
hunter with his gun leveled, stealing eau
tiously around a stump (the bowl, and
ready to fire at three deer, which are
placed in realistic poses over the stem. It
was the work of weeks to make this pipe
a BULBS head with horns Of amber was a
notable example.
Some Of his best work, the artist said,
was made from photographs, Shortly
after the war be made great many
meerschaum pipes, ON which we're carved
the busts Of the leading generals, such as
Grant, Sheridan and Sherman. Nowadays
customer often wants carving Of the
bust Of his favorite actor, singer or public
man, and also Of the head OF his horse or
dog, etc. One Of the largest carvings he
ever made was war piece, in which
twelve figures were represented.
Another design consisted Of five birds
artistically arranged about the pipe A
unique design represented baseball
pitcher and catcher in playing attitudes.
a fine piece of carving represented snake
curling around skull, in the latter being
hole for cigarette.
This would seem to point moral, and is
certainly very unique idea.
A medallion about the size OF half
dollar is really the finest piece Of carving
of all. 1t represents the piazza Of a house,
on which is table with man and dog
standing beside it. The figures could not
be brought out by the naked eye, but uu
der the microscope they are maryelously
clear and distinct.-Boston Globe.