This Is Not A Pipe

Astonishing sign of a pipe merchant or maker, carved from an imposing heather root -
Between Art Brut and Surrealism.
The assembly is in two main parts interconnected by a brass socket.
In the upper main body, a pipe is hollow carved, which is reminiscent of Magritte's famous painting "This is not a pipe".
To believe that this pipe-maker, like Magritte, probably thought that the image eludes the model to be represented; it would be for him to best represent his work, as laborious as it is, its difficulty. as its quality, and not to claim a matter of aesthetics.
Two inscriptions in a carved streamer surround it. On the lower part "Au Narghiler", probably the name of the store, on the upper part "Racine de Bruyère".
The upper part is topped by two smaller heather roots.
Dimensions: 60 cm high x 26 cm wide
Weight: 12 kg