clay pipe

My sister, who has lived in Australia for 50 years was staying with my brother in St Neots. They visited Ely, and wishing to buy a clay pipe for her young grandson who is a collector, she examined one in an antique shop. Thinking that it was a little too expensive she decided to look in other shops, but not finding one more suitable she returned to the first shop and made her purchase. Whilst in the car returning to my brother's she looked more closely at the pipe, which was in the shape of a man with a bushy beard, and read the inscription. "Je suis le vrai Jacob", plus the name "Gambier." That happens to be our family name, and of course my sister's maiden name. Further research shows that the firm Gambier were makers of pipes in Paris until early in the 20th century.