Beschreibung:

American, ca 1863. Folk art pipe carved in low relief with gracefully rendered patriotic motifs. At the center of the basin is an outstretched eagle with a shield upon its breast, holding an olive branch and arrows in its talons. From the eagle's beak flows a banner with hand pointing to War / of 1861-2-3. The basin's underside bears the cursive text Army of the Potomac. Area around the pipe stem is carved C.W. Parks. Luminous, rich patina that enhances the burled wood; lg. 3 in., pipe stem lg. 5.75 in. The Civil War Database lists a Charles W. Parks who was a resident of Charlestown, NH and entered the Union army in August of 1861 at the age of 27. He was mustered into the "G" Company of the Vermont 3rd Infantry, which largely fought in the Virginia region and participated in battles including Antietam, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Petersburg and Cedar Creek. Parks was injured at both Wilderness and Cedar Creek; in October 1864, shortly thereafter the latter engagement, he was mustered out. Provenance: Estate of Jan Sorgenfrei Condition: Small nick below olive branch.