While the great Viennese and other European carvers created fanciful renderings of classical subjects, like cavaliers, kings, cherubim, and carefully draped, Rubensesque nudes, American meerschaum carvers, none the less talented, tended to focus on more homely, rustic subjects. Consider this rather unusual pipe, carved in the shape of a partridge head, whose neck is the bowl and whose beak becomes a vulcanite bit. Were it not so nicely done, it would appear faintly ridiculous. But the carving is quite serious, and even the eye, made of glass an inset into the bowl, is quite life-like.
It is of generous size, comes in its own custom-fitted case that is covered in leather and lined in dark blue velvet, and is in perfect, unsmoked condition. Despite its quaint subject material, it is a very fine pipe.