IMP Meerschaum: Smooth Rhodesian with Silver (with Case) Tobacco Pipe

As a pipe-making material, meerschaum predates briar and joins clay as the predominant material from which pipes were fashioned prior to the mid-19th century. A complex magnesium silicate called "sepiolite" to be technical, meerschaum derives its name from the German word for "seafoam," referencing the mineral's pale, white presentation. When wet, meerschaum softens considerably, allowing it to be carved with intricate detail, and when used in pipe-making, it's prized for its heat resistance, neutral smoking properties, and patination potential, darkening overtime with golden brown hues as it's smoked. Historically, Austria and Turkey manufactured the majority of the world's meerschaum pipes, but today, Turkey remains the sole epicenter of the meerschaum pipe-making industry, boasting numerous meerschaum mines and workshops devoted to pipe making. IMP is among the most prestigious of these workshops, employing master craftsman and utilizing only the finest materials available. While many meerschaum pipes have traditionally featured threaded tenons, IMP's include acrylic mouthpieces with standard mortise-and-tenon arrangements. Moreover, the Turkish workshop prioritizes classic pipe shapes as opposed to the more sculptural, figural examples iconic to meerschaum pipe making, making them ideal choices for pipe smokers who appreciate traditional pipe design but desire the smoking experience and patination process that meerschaum affords — as exemplified by this smooth Rhodesian accented with sterling silver and replete with a custom-made, hard-shell case.