Pijpenkop 1720 - 1735

This is a fragment of a Pijpenkop, or pipe head, likely made by Frans Majoor, though we don’t know exactly when. It’s made of pipe clay, an inexpensive material that lent itself to mass production. The form of the pipe is quite simple, like a bell, but would have required skill to create. First, the clay would have been carefully mixed and shaped. Then, a mold would have been used to create the basic form, with hand-finishing to refine the details. Finally, it was fired in a kiln. These pipes were incredibly common objects. Their ubiquity speaks volumes about the culture of tobacco consumption and the global trade networks that supported it. They remind us that even the humblest object can tell a complex story about labor, class, and consumption. By paying attention to the making and the materials, we move beyond traditional art history and into the real stuff of life.