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A beautiful and impressively historic collection of tobacco pipes from the early 1900s has been placed on the block with RR Auction. These particular pipes were once nestled between the teeth of a man who pondered the greatest questions of our universe: they were Albert Einstein’s. The pre-eminent mathematician’s tobacco collection includes nine intricately and beautifully carved pipes, many with Briarwood bowls held in a menorah-like holder with flexible slots according to the auctioneer. The bidding began at $20,000.
RR Auctions writes, “Significant collection of Einstein’s pipes, found in his Princeton home Remarkable collection of nine of Albert Einstein’s pipes, with a Jewish menorah-style wooden pipe stand for eight. Pipes measure from 4″ to 12″ in length, with most featuring briar wood bowls. While the majority are handsome but simple in form, two are quite decorative—one has a carved owl design (perhaps given to Einstein as a gift symbolizing his wisdom), and another white pipe features an intriguing design of a foot kicking a ball. The wooden holder, measuring 8.5″ x 4.75″ x 7″, has flexible slots to support the stems of eight pipes, and resembles the form of a menorah—a unique and interesting homage to Einstein’s heritage. In overall very good to fine condition, with varying degrees of wear from use.”
How Did They Get Einstein’s Pipes? Don’t Worry, We Have The Story Too!
With most antiquities, a letter of provenance explaining how the current owner came to own them is required and this one tells an amazing story. One that I feel a particular kinship to as I have the good fortune of having studied under and attended Church with one of Einsteins students Mrs. Mary Masterson (nee’ Karsnak) of Carteret, NJ who passed away in 2007, she used to regale our chemistry class with stories of Professor Einstein.
The letter of provenance states, “My father was employed at the Institute for Advanced Study (IAS), Princeton NJ as a caretaker of real estate properties owned by IAS from 1969 to 1995. Some of these properties were located on Mercer Street, Battle Road, Olden Lane, Maxwell Lane, and others when these houses became vacant he would have to clean and prepare them for the next professor to move in. It was in the mid-1980s when he came home with this pipe collection and the menorah-like wooden pipe stand. My father had built a shelf in our living room to display the pipes and stand. After both my parents had passed on, I had to clean out their home and I kept the pipes.”
Einstein in fact lived at a Mercer Street property owned by the Institute which passed to his daughter Margot until her death in 1986 when likely the owner’s father came across it while cleaning. The pipes are such a beautiful piece of our history and a great relic of a truly great man.
As of this writing, the bidding is at $33,657 with 22 bids in and the bids are open until September 25th.
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