A pipe stem with inlay, or something else?

[writehardest]

Howdy All!

I have what looks like a pipe stem to me, but I?d like some input.

I am not saying it is from the following era, but for context I found this on a property with a house from about 1860 in central New Jersey. (Permission was of course obtained for searching and retrieval.) The land here before the house was built was forest and farms. Also, it is in an area with much revolutionary war history, including known troop movements, skirmishes, and camps of both British and American soldiers less than a mile from the property.

Outer diameter of the shaft is a shade over a half inch, (about 9/16ths of an inch wide).
Widest part has a flange that sticks out about an 1/8th of an inch wider than the main shaft.
Inside bore diameter is about 3/8ths of an inch.
Total length of the fragment is about 1 1/2 inches.

There is also some part of an inlay design in two spots.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

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[bowwinkles]

If it is made of white glass then it is most likely a portion of a feed thru electrical insulator.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/228672834/ceramic-insulators-vintage-electrical

 

[Red-Coat]

I believe @bowwinkles is right.

3/8" is way too big for the internal bore of a commercially made clay tobacco pipe from any time period. You'd likely be drawing hot ash through it. I think the 'inlay design' is just chance patterning from poor mixing or moulding defects.

 

[ToddsPoint]

Go to Google images and look up "knob and tube wiring" and you will see it all. Gary