Meerschaum

The History of Meerschaum Pipes

April 18, 2025 by Kayla Ivan

35 Comments

As a history lover, I actively seek out and absorb as much interesting information about the past as possible. Fortunately for me, that curiosity translates well into my current job and my interest in the pipe-smoking hobby as a whole. That endless, enthusiastic drive for wisdom is a foundational pillar for Smokingpipes ... Read More

Top Seven Meerschaum Motifs

February 23, 2022 by Angela Robertson

1 Comment

One of the world's oldest pipe-making mediums, meerschaum is prized for its flavor-neutral smoking properties, heat resistance, and ability to darken with warm tones of patina as it's smoked over time. Moreover, the mineral's malleable composition allows it to be carved into ornate figural motifs that depict animals, people, flowers, and skulls, for example, as well as more traditional pipe shapes. ... Read More

A Pipe Prank Played on Mark Twain

October 1, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

15 Comments

Mark Twain was a near constant smoker, an enthusiast of both pipes and cigars to a level that brought admiring and bewildered comments from his acquaintances. His niece called him "the smokiest man alive," and his friend William Dean Howells said, "he smoked as much as a man could, for he smoked incessantly." ... Read More

Origins of the Calabash Pipe

July 22, 2021 by Jeffery Sitts

13 Comments

The Calabash is one of the most iconic and timeless pipe shapes of all time, becoming a significant and historical design within pipe making as well as appearing in multiple forms of media. It's a whimsical and distinctive shape that's immediately recognizable, with the archetypal gourd Calabash being perhaps the most famous and well known version, which is named after the hard- ... Read More

Pipe Smoking Desktop Backgrounds: July 2020

July 1, 2020 by Andrew Wike

1 Comment

It's time for another round of beautiful pipe smoking desktop backgrounds! As in previous months, we've compiled some our favorite shots and artwork to share with you. Below you'll find eight unique images, split between desktop and mobile orientations and available for download in two high-resolution ... Read More

The Faces of Meerschaum

January 3, 2019 by Chuck Stanion

9 Comments

The expressive nature of so many figural meerschaums is a subject of fascination. Every pipe smoker interprets the carved images differently, with different nuances of a pipe taking much different meanings for separate individuals. One person might see a particular emotion reflected in a carving ... Read More

Meerschaum Coloring

November 30, 2018 by Chuck Stanion

12 Comments

Meerschaums have been popular for far longer than briar pipes and maintain an enthusiastic following. Briar wasn't introduced as an accepted and durable material for pipes until the late 1800s, after all, and previous to that meerschaum was king. It's a remarkably neutral material, and many profess that it is an accurate medium ... Read More

All Pipes Considered: IMP Meerschaum

March 26, 2018 by CJ Pendergrass

1 Comment

In this episode of All Pipes Considered,Andy and Kaz talk IMP Meerschaum, including their silverwork, style, and the more practical elements of briar pipes they're bringing to the world of meerschaum.

CAO Meerschaum and the Legendary Ismet Bekler

March 9, 2016 by Andrew Wike

4 Comments

Cano A. Ozgener, a Turkish native with a Master's Degree in mechanical engineering, happened across some imperfect meerschaum pipes in his late twenties. Unsatisfied with the quality, he decided to improve them in his spare time. He changed the stemwork, made modifications to the engineering, and began ... Read More

Half a World and a Lifetime Away

February 11, 2014 by Denis Riley

10 Comments

Long ago, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth (way back in the 1980s), I spent a few years in the Meerschaum Capital of the World. I was in the Air Force, stationed at Incirlik Air Base in the Republic of Turkey. In addition to experiencing the beautiful Turkish culture and lifestyle I had only read about in books, I saw some examples of the most amazing artistry and craftsmanship one could imagine. ... Read More

The History of Meerschaum Pipes

Top Seven Meerschaum Motifs

A Pipe Prank Played on Mark Twain

Origins of the Calabash Pipe

Pipe Smoking Desktop Backgrounds: July 2020

The Faces of Meerschaum

Meerschaum Coloring

All Pipes Considered: IMP Meerschaum

CAO Meerschaum and the Legendary Ismet Bekler

Half a World and a Lifetime Away

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