REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
 
A smoking pipe stem fragment with the maker's mark of "L. Fiolet" was found
during an archaeological survey of the Redhill Creek Valley in the City of
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.  This fragment has a red glazed exterior with the
maker's mark consisting of sharply incised upper and lower case letters circling
the stem.
 
While this artifact originates from the family-owned Fiolet pipemaking firm in
St. Omer, France, it is not known how old it is.   According to Iain Walker
(1977:286-288), three heads of the firm had "L" as the first initial of their
names:  Louis Joseph (1754-1806); Louis-Maximilien pere (1782-1834); and
Louis-Maximillien fils (1809-1892).  Walker (1983:30) also indicates that
nineteenth century French pipes occur widely, though never profusely, in North
America.
 
I would like to receive any information or bibliographic reference that would
help identify an accurate date range for this artifact, as well as help generate
a distribution map showing archaeological sites in North America where Fiolet
pipes have been found.  I can be reached at the following address.
 
Bob Mayer
Mayer Heritage Consultants Inc.
429 Colborne Street
London, Ontario, Canada   N6B 2T2
 
(Office) 800-465-9990
(Facsimile) 519-645-8100
(E-mail) 103704,[log in to unmask]
 
All contributions will be greatfully appreciated and duly acknowledged.
 
Thanks in advance.