A cast lead alloy
whistle in the form of a pipe bowl, dating from 1750 -1900. A very similar but
more complete example is NCL-754936. Compare also NMGW-D888C6, SWYOR-81CE24 and
SWYOR-9662A2. Until recently, these pipes were thought to be for smoking, but an
article by David Higgins in The Society for Clay Pipe Research, number 76
(Autumn / Winter 2009) has identified complete curated examples which have a
lid, and which were used as whistles. They were probably children's toys and may
have been made in Germany. |