Coloring his Meerschaum

In this humorous animal scene, a monkey lounges on an Empire style settee and pensively smokes a pipe. The print's title "Coloring his Meerschaum," refers to a a type of tobacco pipe, made from a white claylike mineral material that changes color (in shades of amber yellow to oranges and reds) as it is being smoked.

Nathaniel Currier (1813–1888), who established a successful New York-based lithography firm in 1835, produced thousands of hand-colored prints in various sizes that together create a vivid panorama of mid-to-late nineteenth century American life. In 1857, Currier made bookkeeper James Merritt Ives (1824-1895) a business partner. People continued to eagerly acquire Currier & Ives lithographs, such as those featuring spectacular American landscapes, rural and city views, historical events, portraits, ships and trains, domestic life. caricatures and comic subjects, in addition to numerous other categories, as an inexpensive way to decorate their homes or business establishments. The Currier & Ives firm operated until 1907.