A collection of three French hand carved wooden tobacco pipes in various sizes. A pair of pipes are marked with impressed stamps, Saint Claude Bruyere Garantie B. M. F., Sublime, on the handles. One pipe is hand colored in blue and red shades. Provenance: The personal collection of George Mermet, 1922, Les Bouchoux, France 1978, New York, NY. George Mermet was born near St. Claude in the Jura mountains of France near the Swiss border. He emigrated to New York in 1938 to apprentice as a diamond cutter. He was to become an independent master diamond cutter on 47th St. The pipes were acquired from his maternal uncle, Cyril Perrier, a master pipe maker in St.Claude, while on a trip to France in 1957. St. Claude is known as the pipe capital of France. Antique and Vintage European Tobacciana Wares For Collectors.