Physical Description

One clay pipe bowl with 'TD' and 12 stars impressed on stem side and a vertical line of leaves down the seam on the other side.

Physical Description

One clay pipe bowl with 'TD' and 12 stars impressed on stem side and a vertical line of leaves down the seam on the other side.

More Information

  • Collection Names

    Royal Exhibition Building Western Forecourt Collection

  • Collecting Areas

    Public Life & Institutions, Historical Archaeology, Royal Exhibition Building

  • Acquisition Information

    Transfer from Godden Mackay Logan Heritage Consultants (GML), Department of Archaeology, La Trobe University, Australia Gallery, History & Technology Department, Museum Victoria, 18 Jan 2010

  • Context Number

    J14//

  • Site

    Australia, Victoria, Melbourne, Royal Exhibition Building Western Forecourt

  • Distinguishing Marks

    'TD' pipes are a form commonly found on 19th century archaeological sites. The significance of the letters is not known, but they are thought to be the initials of a 16th century maker of quality pipes that developed into a symbolic element over time due to widespread plagiarism. Pipes where the letters TD are surrounded by a circle of stars (or sometimes twelve to fourteen stars), are referred to as 'Patriotic Pipes'. The stars are thought to represent the original colonies of the USA.

  • Activity

    Recreation

  • Specific Activity

    Smoking

  • Colour

    White

  • Classification

    Historical archaeology

  • Category

    History & Technology

  • Discipline

    Archaeology - Historical

  • Type of item

    Object

  • References

    Bradley 2000: 112; Walker 1966: 89, 100; Humphrey 1969: 25
    [Article] Bradley, C. Smoking Pipes for the Archaeologist, in Karklins, Karlis. Studies in Material Culture Research., 2000, 112 Pages
    [Article - Journal] Walker, I. 1996. TD Pipes: A Preliminary Study. Quarterly Bulletin of the Archaeological Society of Virginia. 20 (4): 86-102., 1966, 89, 100 Pages
    [Article - Journal] Humphrey, R. 1969. Clay Pipes from Old Sacramento. Historical Archaeology. 12-33., 1969, 25 Pages

  • Keywords

    Archaeology, Royal Exhibition Building, Smoking, World Heritage