The History Of The Meerschaum Pipes

The History Of The Meerschaum Pipes

by

Penny Palmer

Tobacco pipes have been used for centuries as a way to enjoy the flavors, feelings, and aromas involved with the burning of the tobacco leaf. From colonial days to the present, this pipe has brought much pleasure to thousands of traditional tobacco smokers.

First off, we should discuss just what a Meerschaum Pipe is. It is, essentially, a smoking pipe made out of meerschaum. This mineral is also known as sepiolite, a soft white mineral that hardens when it is exposed to heat. Meerschaum is the German word for “sea foam,” reflecting the minerals white fluffy qualities. Because of its porous qualities, the mineral is prized as one of the best materials for tobacco smoking and pipe production. It works so well as pipe material for two reasons: First, it draws the moisture from the smoke into the pipe so that no condensation causes problems inside the smoking pipe. Secondly, it also draws the tar, a sticky dark residue left behind when the leaves are burned. Over time, this tar gives the mineral a brownish hue that deepens the more the pipe is used.

Meerschaum pipes begin their life as a pipe buried deep in the earth, about two hundred to three hundred feet down. From these deposits, the mineral is hand mined and taken to be prepared for carving. The Eskisehir Region in Turkey is known all over the world for their amazing meerschaum that produces beautiful pipes. The African coast is also well known for their production of the mineral; however, the African-mined meerschaum is of lesser quality than those mined from Turkey.

The very first meerschaum pipe was believed to have been carved around two hundred to three hundred years ago. It was built by a man named Kovacs, a shoemaker in Budapest. The first recorded use of the pipe was in 1723, at a time when tobacco smoking and the social implications were just beginning to form in the upper societies of the day. Today, these meerschaum pipes are works of art that are highly valued and prized by collectors, museums, and individuals alike.

To remember the history and the value behind these special pipes, a Meerschaum Festival is held every year in many cities around the globe. These festivals provide many supplies, pipes, workshops, and social events for meerschaum enthusiasts around the globe. Perhaps the most famous festival is that which is held in the Eskisehir, bringing famous artisans and tobaccos from around the country.

For centuries, Meerschaum Pipes have been beloved and appreciated by thousands if not millions of tobacco smokers around the world. The pipe becomes like an old friend, growing older and more beautiful like the user, bringing many pleasant memories with it.

The Tobacco Barn, since 1929, has been proudly serving the needs of cigar and pipe smokers, and serving the online community since 2003. If you are looking for

smoking pipes

or

lighter fluid

, please visit tobacco-barn.com.

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The History Of The Meerschaum Pipes