Shakespeare tobacco stopper Shakespeare tobacco stopper

This tiny tobacco stopper, used for pressing down tobacco in a pipe, is possibly made from wood from the mulberry tree supposedly planted by Shakespeare at New Place, Stratford-upon-Avon. The tree was cut down in the 1750s by the Rev. Francis Gastrell, who had grown tired of tourists asking to see it. A brisk trade in genuine and fake mulberry wood souvenirs followed and tobacco stoppers such as this were common.

This tiny tobacco stopper, used for pressing down tobacco in a pipe, is possibly made from wood from the mulberry tree supposedly planted by Shakespeare at New Place, Stratford-upon-Avon. The tree was cut down in the 1750s by the Rev. Francis Gastrell, who had grown tired of tourists asking to see it. A brisk trade in genuine and fake mulberry wood souvenirs followed and tobacco stoppers such as this were common.