MCM Italian Briarwood Pipe & 1951 Brass Rest by Virginia Metalcrafters

BOTH THE PIPE AND REST ARE INCLUDED IN THE PRICE!!!

A “Briar Pipe” is a traditional tobacco pipe which has a Stummel (wood body) crafted from the root burl of the Erica arborea, commonly known as the heath tree. The heath tree is a Mediterranean shrub, but once harvested it becomes briarwood. Because of the wood's high heat resistance, durability, and neutral flavor when burning tobacco, briarwood is considered the worldwide gold standard for making high-quality smoking pipes. Briarwood is incredibly dense and highly resistant to burning out or charring. The density allows it to withstand the high temperatures of burning tobacco.
The briarwood naturally absorbs moisture and condensation that is produced during smoking. Absorbing the moisture provides a remarkably dry and cool smoke. The briarwood is famous for its stunning natural grain patterns such as "flame" or "bird's eye".
Italian briarwood used for smoking pipes is called bruyère which is derived from the French word for "heath" tree.
Because of Italy’s deep roots in craftsmanship, many of the world's most acclaimed briar pipes are made by renowned Italian artisans and brands, such as Savinelli Pipes and Castello. While “briarwood” was the supreme standard, Italian artisans and factories also experimented with a few specific alternative woods like olivewood, bog oak, beechwood and cherrywood.
This particular briar pipe is an Italian handmade tourist pipe from the 1950s.
Each of these types of pipes were hand-carved and widely popular during the post-WW2 tourist trade in Italy and Europe.
This pipe is in amazing condition and has never been used.
Length is approximately 6.2 inches with a 1.5” to 2” tobacco chamber (bore). The complete shank and bowl are a single carved briarwood piece. The draught (draft) is perfect as well as unobstructed. The mortis and tenon are vulcanite and still seal the mouthpiece (stem) which is made of black Lucite. The mouthpiece, bit, and lip are all one piece and has no teeth markings. All parts have been sanitized prior to packaging.

The pipe rest was made in the United States by Virginia Metalcrafters in 1951. The design is a “Lemon Leaf “and was part of Virginia Metalcrafters infamous Botanical Series as a trinket dish but doubled as a pipe and cigarette rest. This brass lemon leaf weighs 7.1 oz and measures 5.38" long, 2.25" wide and 1" tall.

Metalcrafters was originally known as the Waynesboro Stove Company that was established in 1890 (Waynesboro, VA). In 1895 the company changed to the W. J. Loth Stove Company. In 1938, Loth added a brass foundry and branded the brass products Virginia Metalcrafters. Loth evolved from a cast-iron stove manufacturer in Virginia into one of America's premier 20th-century foundries that made premium brass and iron giftware. Virginia Metalcrafters cast their items using hand-pouring methods similar to those used by colonial craftsmen.
Beginning in the late 1940s, the company commissioned renowned sculptor Oskar J.W. Hansen to create a highly collectible "Botanical Series". Natural leaves and botanicals were collected, molded, and meticulously hand-cast in metal. The Lemon Leaf like this model (3-51) came in brass and bronze that ranged from a polished "buttery gold" finish to an aged, unpolished patina. The cast iron was also made in polished, a simulated verdigris (green patina), and also matted colored finishes. Some of the Botanical Series came in Virginia Metalcrafters aluminum casts known as “silvertone” as well. During the time of this item’s production in 1951, the foundry signed a highly lucrative licensing agreement with Colonial Williamsburg Museum to produce authentic historical brass and iron 18th century reproductions for their famous “living-history” museum in Williamsburg, Virginia. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Virginia Metalcrafters continued to be the premier American brass company, producing high-end items for the Smithsonian, Mount Vernon, Monticello, and the White House. The company also sand-casted trivets that catapulted Virginia Metalcrafters into modern home fashions by the 1980s. Beginning in the 1990s, VMC was facing increased pressure from cheap, mass-produced imports, and the company experienced severe financial strain. It attempted to cut costs and diversify but struggled to compete with globalization and changing decorative trends. The company went out of business, officially pouring its last sand-cast trivets and completely closing the foundry doors in December 2006.
Colonial Williamsburg purchased many of their original molds to continue producing select items. The original factory site at 1010 East Main Street was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2015. One year later in 2016, The historic facility was redeveloped into the Virginia
Metalcrafters Marketplace. The former industrial complex has been repurposed to host various local businesses, including breweries like the Basic City Beer Co., urban wineries, and coffee roasters. But sadly, Virginia Metalcrafters foundry and their products have become a memory.

These items were purchased by MemoryLaneVintiques at an estate sale in Dallas, Texas.

MemoryLaneVintiques sanitizes all glassware, glazed pottery, metal, jewelry and resin cast items before packing for shipment....100% Guaranteed!
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