Old German Clay: Pot Tobacco Pipe

Product Number: 002-557-0011

Old German Clay pipes are hand-crafted by Markus Fohr in Montabaur, Germany, using the region's prized white clay. Maintaining his family's rich pipe-making tradition, Fohr utilizes antique hand-presses to mold pipes in the style of centuries past, with some of the presses dating back to the late 18th century. Until briar was popularized in the mid 19th century, clay pipes dominated the pipe-smoking milieu, and for many, they were the only smoking instruments available: Meerschaum pipes existed, but clay was more ubiquitous and economically accessible. Most public houses and taverns provided a communal supply of clay pipes, often in long, willowy Churchwarden form. Today, while briar pipes have become the norm for most pipe smokers, clay pipes are still available and offer a distinct aesthetic and what many consider a neutral flavor. In fact, pipe-tobacco blenders often utilize clay pipes when testing and experimenting with prospective mixtures. Clay is more delicate than other pipe-making materials, so special care is advised when storing and traveling with a clay pipe; however, they're incredibly heat-resistant and immune to burnout, making them perfect workhorse smokers. Even though the bowl will get hot, there's no risk of damaging the pipe — they're fired in a kiln during production, after all.

Offered here is a sleek Pot with a subtle heel spur by Markus Fohr in a compact overall size compared to vintage clay tavern pipes of centuries past.

Note: While all of our other pipes are photographed individually, these are not, and you may expect some reasonable cosmetic variation between the example we've photographed and the pipe you've received.

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$17.00
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Measurements & Other Details

  • Length: 5.59 in./141.99 mm.
  • Weight: 0.99 oz./28.12 g.
  • Bowl Height: 1.50 in./38.10 mm.
  • Chamber Depth: 1.17 in./29.72 mm.
  • Chamber Diameter: 0.73 in./18.54 mm.
  • Outside Diameter: 1.09 in./27.69 mm.
  • Stem Material: Other
  • Filter: None
  • Shape: Pot
  • Finish: Smooth
  • Material: Clay
  • Country: Germany
Customer Reviews
Overall Rating:
5.0
2 reviews
Incredible pipe
July 23, 2024
Product: Old German Clay Pot
This instantly became the best pipe I own. Bone dry, no gurgles, no dotttle, no tongue bite at all, this pipe is basically one big filter but doesn't affect the flavor at all. The draw is very free. I'll probably never go back to a briar pipe again.
Very Nice Pipe
July 11, 2020
Product: Old German Clay Pot
After a time with one of these, I think everyone should try one. These Markus Fohr pipes are well-made—better than any others I've seen—and the price is fair for something handmade in Germany. They come in the manufacturer's box packed in sawdust, so they survive shipping. Clay smokes fairly dry, and the taste is incredibly clean — making it the PERFECT medium to try a new blend in. While they undoubtedly vary from pipe-to-pipe, mine has a nicely prominent foot on it, unlike the one in the photo above. ♙♘♗♖♕♔ Mine passes a pipe cleaner straight through to the bowl. However, I always use a standard, smooth-textured one ("BJ Long" brand) over a fluffy or bristle style for risk of breaking it. Clay smokes drier than briar, but you will want to swab it now and then. ⚀⚁⚂⚃⚄⚅ After a month of smoking often, mine started to taste bad (like an over-used cob or an unclean briar) from oils building up inside the pores of the clay. So I followed the maker's instructions. I left it on top of a bed of hot coals from a campfire, and left it there until the next morning. After cleaning it with a wire brush and then a bristle brush, it tasted clean again and it was looking nice with a newly-acquired patina from the fire. ♤♧♡♢ To conclude my novel ☺︎, if you're looking to expand your pipe horizons for a nominal fee, this is a wonderful place to start. It's also a ⭐︎PERFECT⭐︎ way to test-out new blends. Yes, clay has some quirks; it gets a lot hotter than briar, and you certainly can't clench a clay pipe like your favorite briar or a cob, but these quirks are—in my opinion—absolutely worth it....Read More
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