Wright (1996) writes: "This small ship pipe is similar to an early ship pipe in the Peabody Museum, Salem (#E3498), which is dated 1830, the earliest example of this type of pipe. It has the complete hull of the ship, a scrolled billet head prow ornament, and a small cabin-like structure that holds the bowl of the pipe. One Euro-American seaman reclines behind the bowl, and two other sailor figures are carved on opposite sides of the hull with one hand raised to the head and the other on the hip. This delicate pipe is pierced along the keel line, behind the back and under the legs of the top figure. The lack of carved details on the cabin and leaves behind the top figure suggests that this pipe may not have been finished at the time it was sold (see Wright 1979)."