Tobacco Pipes Search
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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 and helps inform our descriptions and enables pipe smokers around the world to gain knowledge about the craft, the makers, and the materials used. We have numerous resources at our disposal and experts within the field that can answer nearly any conceivable pipe-smoking question. Well, at least most pipe-smoking inquiries — we're still developing methods for smoking in the shower and programming tiny robots to pack bowls for us.
Meerschaum, or sepiolite as it's known by its mineral name, or Mg4Si6O15(OH)2·6H2O for those who prefer complex chemical formulas.
It was after doing some reading and reflecting that I became interested in learning more about the materials used to fashion pipes, more specifically, meerschaum. I admittedly had only a surface level knowledge about the pale white medium but wanted to know more about its history, the process of harvesting it, and how it's eventually carved into a smoking instrument. I became fascinated with learning about when meerschaum was introduced to the pipe-making world, how artisans carve the blocks into intricate pieces of functional art, and how it has endured as one of the oldest mediums in pipe making. We've previously talked about the appealing characteristics of meerschaum pipes and the process of coloring them, and Chuck even described some of his favorite figural meers, but we've yet to deeply explore the medium and how it eventually becomes a pipe. I couldn't keep my findings to myself, so I decided to share them in this blog and hope you as a reader will take something away from it or perhaps find it educational from a pipe smoker's perspective.
Sepiolite
Meerschaum, or sepiolite as it's known by its mineral name, or Mg4Si6O15(OH)2·6H2O for those who prefer complex chemical formulas, is a soft white clay mineral renowned for its flavor-neutral smoking properties, light weight, moisture absorbency, and high heat-resistance. Though its exact geologic origin remains unknown, one popular — though unfounded — theory suggests that meerschaum may be the product of the shells and bones of small prehistoric sea creatures, combined and compressed over millions of years. The name itself, "sepiolite," comes from the Greek word sepion, meaning "cuttlebone," due to the mineral's resemblance to the internal shell of the cuttlefish, and is attributed to mid-19th century German mineralogist Ernst Friedrich Glocker.
While it's primarily associated with Turkish pipe making, the word "meerschaum" is comprised of the German words meer, meaning "sea," and schaum, meaning "foam." There are conflicting reports regarding who exactly named it meerschaum, but it's thought to have come from its visual similarity, including its light weight and high porosity, to actual sea foam.
Coloring Bowl by IMP Meerschaum
Meerschaum's introduction as a pipe-making medium has been attributed an origination in Budapest, Hungary during the early 18th-century (1723 is the date most often referenced). The story goes that a Budapest noble named Count Andrassy, who served as an envoy to Turkey, brought two blocks of meerschaum back home with him. The Count gave the blocks to a cobbler and pipe smoker named Karl (various sources spell his last name as Kovacs or Kowates) and commissioned the shoemaker to carve the blocks into tobacco pipes. After Karl completed carving the pipes, Count Andrassy kept one and gave the other to the shoemaker as a form of payment for his services. Karl smoked his creation over several weeks while making shoes and made an important observation one day. After unintentionally getting some of his cobbler's beeswax on the pipe, Karl detected the wax greatly improved the meerschaum's ability to color, and he promptly covered the pipe in beeswax, watching the patina spread more evenly across the stummel's surface the more he smoked.
In the following century, meerschaum pipes grew in popularity among European pipe smokers and were in high demand. However, unlike the clay pipes which were widely available and inexpensive, meerschaum pipes were primarily reserved for the wealthy, as only they could afford to commission an artist to carve one. The meerschaum pipe gradually became a stylish accessory, with everyone trying to surpass one another, and most likely gave rise to the intricately carved figural pieces that are still loved by pipe smokers in the modern era. Impressively intricate and figural meerschaums were also viewed by some as art objects, many people simply buying meerschaum pipes to display in their cabinets and on their shelves. But for some who still wanted their pipes to take on color, the wealthy would hire people to smoke their meerschaums for hours or instructed the pipe maker to smoke the pipe for a few weeks before delivering it so that it would develop a patina.
While it's primarily associated with Turkish pipemaking, the word "meerschaum" is comprised of the German words meer, meaning "sea," and schaum, meaning "foam."
Turning meerschaum from a block into a pipe is a lengthy process, beginning with its initial harvesting. Meerschaum deposits have been discovered in various parts of the world such as France, Spain, Morocco, the Republic of South Africa, Greece, and even the United States, but for the most part, Turkey is the main source for the meerschaum used in modern pipe making because of its purity, color and density. While some meerschaum deposits lie on the ground's surface, the majority are deeply buried and must be mined under dangerous conditions from pits and tunnels running hundreds of feet underground. Once brought to the surface, the meerschaum blocks are covered in clay but are thoroughly washed, with workers using special knives to remove the clay and any immediately evident flaws. When excavated, the meerschaum blocks are typically quite damp and must undergo a drying process to remove the moisture. This involves placing the blocks in low-temperature ovens for several weeks, or even in the sunlight, until the moisture has evaporated.
Once dry, the blocks are polished and waxed, allowing an expert grader to better determine the quality of each block while also removing any flaws, weak spots, or irregularities. During the grading process, the block's size, density, weight, color, and consistency are all taken into consideration before being shipped to the pipe-making workshop. After the blocks arrive at the factory, they are organized according to their grade and size based upon what style of pipe they're best suited for. To make carving the meerschaum blocks easier, they are soaked in water anywhere from thirty minutes to an hour, depending on size, softening them to the approximate consistency of hard cheese. But if left soaking for too long, the block will disintegrate into small pieces and become unusable.
The meerschaum pipe gradually became a stylish accessory, with everyone trying to surpass one another, and most likely gave rise to the intricately carved figural pieces that are still loved by pipe smokers in the modern era.
After the block softens, it goes to a carver who is responsible for its shaping until it roughly resembles the desired final shape, shaving and cutting off the extra mass. It's then usually passed on to another artisan who drills the smoke channel and tobacco chamber, trimming it down more precisely toward its final shape before being handed off to a master craftsman. Utilizing years of training and carefully honed precision, the master artisan will complete the pipe's shaping, carving the roughly shaped bowl and into its designated form and finish. It's a demanding process — one small mistake with the lathe or cutting knife can ruin the entire bowl or destroy the entire block. The completed stummels go on to be fitted with mouthpieces that are usually attached to the stummel via a threaded tenon, though some brands, such as IMP Meerschaum, opt for a configuration that's similar to the standard push-style tenon commonly found on briar pipes.
It's also noteworthy that the leftover meerschaum scraps and chips are saved, later to be crushed and repurposed as tampers or caps on Calabash pipes. They'll sometimes be sold to other manufacturers to be turned into pressed meerschaum pipes, the scraps mixed with a bonding material and pressed into blocks to harden. As a result, the pressed blocks will have a higher density and they will not patinate or absorb color like block meerschaum and are significantly cheaper. Pipes crafted from block meerschaum tend to smoke cooler than pressed meerschaum and will patinate with time and use. Even then, block meerschaum doesn't color evenly and will naturally vary from pipe to pipe, though coloring bowls can be utilized to promote even coloring across the meerschaum's surface.
The sheer detail and exacting process that goes into crafting a meerschaum pipe is impressive and is definitely deserving of more attention.
Once completed, the stummels are dried in low-temperature ovens for between six and 12 hours, depending on their moisture level. The drying process is a crucial step since it allows the meerschaum to harden, enabling the stummel to retain a high luster and absorb more of the beeswax coating that will be applied. The stummels are sanded with sharkskin to remove small scratches that developed through handling, and are polished with a type of dried grass, since any other buffing compound will damage the material. Afterward, the stummels are placed in boiling white beeswax for a few minutes and then set out to dry before eventually being polished with a soft cloth. And to protect the pipe, oftentimes a special fitted case will be crafted for the pipe before it is shipped out for sale.
Pipe making in general is a demanding craft that takes endless hours of practice and constant refinement, with artisans devoting years to the development of their skills, And while briar is the most popular pipe-making medium currently used, meerschaum is a fascinating material that is sometimes overlooked. The sheer detail and exacting process that goes into crafting a meerschaum pipe is impressive and is definitely deserving of more attention. I was absolutely fascinated while researching the material and developed a deeper appreciation for meerschaums, especially for how artisans are able to express their creative vision on a block of mineral.
Do you own any meerschaum pipes or have you been curious about trying one? I'd love to hear what kind of meers our pipe-smoking community owns or what everyone looks for when they purchase one!
Tagged in: AKB Meershcaum History IMP Meerschaum Materials Meerschaum Pipe Basics
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Comments
Love the article, very informative.
My comments disappeared after submission and entering the security code correctly. They span 60 years of Meerschaum ownership.
Interesting and informative article; thanks. I own two meerschaums. One is very large and very old. I bought it at an estate sale over 30 years ago and it was old then. I can smoke it for two hours and it never gets wet or hot. I also have a newer, smaller meer. It is good for about 45 minutes. It heats up quickly and I suspect, from your article, that it may be made of the pressed material. Thanks again!
Really great writeup, Jeffrey! My first Meerschaum pipe was purchased during a sale in which it was believed IMP had ceased production, and SmokingPipes had received a random lot of pipes still floating around in the system. There were some really cool shapes, mostly non-figured.
My experience with meerschaums has been expensive, blood pressure boosting, and totally unsatisfactory. The high point was flinging a Baki into the gentle flames of a fireplace. I'm just glad someone invented the more useful briar pipes and corncobs to replace meerschaums and clays.
I own six of these beauties. Two I actually purchased over in Turkey directly from a cutter. I am never surprised how great they smoke and have watched several YouTube videos concerning the making, smoking, and care of these awesome pipes. Thanks for the article it was very informative.
Great to look at..a pain the the butt to smoke !
Thoroughly enjoyed the informative article. I own approx. 200 meerschaum pipes. When I acquire a new one I look for one I don't have. I have purchased duplicates in the past but I enjoy them all.
Excellent article. I enjoyed reading it thoroughly. Thank you for taking the time and researching the subject. Meerschum pipes are my absolute favorite. From the cool smoke to the beautiful designs.
Yeah, you can hear my story.
I recently bought a meerschaum lined pipe from you guys. I was very pleased with it. It smoked like I imagine, cool and a "maintained" dryness. Very similar to briar and you can smoke it over and over without getting sour like a briar. I usually let it rest an hour or several hours longer.
But then recently (I only had it a couple of months) the meerschaum lining started coming out of the briar bowl and now it stick above it a little more than 2 mm above it. Several weeks before it was about 1 mm.
Never abused the pipe. It got hot several times but that's kind of to be expected once in a while. I put a hold on buying another meerschaum lined pipe while I figure this out or contact the maker of the pipe - Rattray.
And that's the story of my first meerschaum-lined adventure. I hate the way it looks now and that kind of effects my enjoyment. Looking to buy a full meerschaum maybe next time but they are expensive.
I loved to read this! Thank you! LOVED THAT!
The cobbler name was Kovács. (means: blacksmith) Károly Kovács. So his name in english was: Karl Blacksmith. I think the story tellers spelled as Kowates because they didnt know how to spell the name correctly. But its Kovács as you wrote.
Thanks for this again!
I once read that it was formerly common practice for a city dandy to purchase a new meerschaum and loan it to a sailor going to sea. By this arrangement the sailor had a pipe to smoke during his months-long voyage and upon his return, the dandy received back a well-patinaed pipe. I have little doubt many a meerschaum was lost at sea. So early in my pipe-smoking life I did the same, only I was the sailor. Soon to depart on a six-plus month WestPac cruise with the U.S.Navy, I gathered some of my savings and purchased a Pioneer rusticated meerschaum from the former Tobaccos of Hawaii. During that cruise I faithfully smoked it as often as possible, running a variety of available tobaccos through its bowl. Upon return half a year later I compared my meerschaum to a photo I had taken prior, and sure enough it had turned a lovely shade of light golden yellow. This all occurred in 1981, and I still have that pipe in my rack today. A loyal friend, always ready for a bowl of Guide’s Blend on a quiet Maine evening.
Nice article! I've been smoking pipes for 41 years now. Sometime in the mid-eighties I discovered meerschaum and bought my first meershaum pipe. I currently have only three meers. Two were carved by H. Ege and the other by H. Cor. One of the Ege pipes is a large "tulip" I've had for several years. It's coloring up nicely. The other Ege is a medium sized billiard with lattice work. The Cor is a very large smooth bulldog with really thick walls. It is taking longer to color. Suffice it to say that I prefer less ornate, smoother pieces over the intricately carved pipes. These all smoke very well!
About 60 years ago, as a 14 year old, I bought a beautiful calabash in Hot Springs, Arkansas after a successful day at the Horse races. I still have it. My first real pipe. It went unsmoked for a long time. My next was picked up in Malta by a neighbor and good friend while he was with the Navy. Subsequently I've acquired a number of meerschaums leaning heavily towards traditional shapes and styles. I spent my afternoon today puffing away with an almost new Pioneer Dublin with real amber stem. There are perhaps a dozen others. I prefer the more durable briars in my collection as they may be smoked and handled fearlessly. My favorites are a couple of African crude blocks with short churchwarden stems...plug ugly but good smokers. I don't worry about them like the others as they're pretty homely and not subject to further disfigurement. I've seen a few impressively carved meerschaums and am always awestruck by their carefully preserved beauty and wonderful coloration. Truthfully, all of mine smoke well and deliver the true taste of what's in the bowl. Oddly, it seems like all good pipe materials come from below ground, excepting Cobs and Cherry woods.
You wrote that if the water content was too high then the Meershaum would fall apart and become useless.
Since it is a type of clay I wonder why it couldn't be reduced to a fine grained, thick
slurry just as are it's various relatives in the clay world? The next step would be to pour some of into a small, plaster ceramics mold and see how long it takes for enough moisture to be lost to the mold before, well, surely y'all can see where I'm headed? If Seipolite can be handled like this it seems there would be all types of uses in the industry for it. The market for calibrated blanks of varied sides and shapes alone would be large. Not all carvers out there carve pipes.
I rambled a little here. Sorry but at the moment I'm kicked back with a favorite pipe with some State approved meds loaded, tamped and only partway smoked....rambling again...are there refreshments?
Goodnite y'all i:m only using one finger on this touchpad and it's getting hard to correct all the mistakes.BBrunello
I own 6 meerschaums and love them all. Smoking one right now and as usual, it performs flawlessly. Far more durable than briars (which I love as well), I always reach for one when it is windy outside and I don’t want to risk burning out a briar. The price is great, too. I have yet to see a beautifully hand carved briar at the same low cost as even the most expensive, comparable meerschaums.
@Astrocomical I'm so sorry to hear that you've had some trouble with your meerschaum lined pipe. I am going to reach out to you via email so we can help resolve this for you.
Great work Jeff! I thought I knew everything about Meerschaum but you managed to find some facts that I wasn’t aware.
I have smoked meerschaum pipes for over 50 years and therefore know a bit about them.Really there is only one place to get them from and that is Eskiher in Turkey.Anything else just does not cut it.Don't buy crushed meerschaum, Austrian cultivated rubbish or Amboseli from Africa,they are not the real Mcoy.I have a number of carved head,straight and bent pipes.It takes time for them to gain colour.When they are sweet you can't beat them for taste, briars just don't come near for sweetness and smoking oleasure.I don't pay much for the one's I get.I search Ebay and can usually pick up a really nice pipe for less than £25.Anyway good hunting and thanks for this article which I found interesting.
Roger - Eskiher is a place, near where most Turkish meerschaum deposits are located. But the fact that a pipe purportedly comes from Eskiher is no guarantee of its quality. You need to know much more than that.
Very interesting article.I have smoked meerschaum pipes for over 50years so know a bit about them.I have a number of carved head,bent and straight pipes.The only real meerschaums come from Eskihir in Turkey.Anthing else is not the real Mcoy.I have learned that from experience.I did buy a calabash gourd type and paid a lot for it and would not recommend them as you can't clean them properly due to the bend in the wooden gourd.Should you break the stem it can be glued using super glue and it will last for ages without coming apart.I buy pipes from Ebay and never spend more than £25.Nothing beats the taste of a meerschaum,briars can't cut it compared.Happy puffing all.
I agree, however I have pipes from Comoys with the carvers name Nurhan Cevahir and I think anyone who has smoked meerschaums will know by the taste and saliva test what is the real thing.Amboseli, Austrian and anything that does not come from Turkey is basically fake meerschaum, some are cultivated and having tried them know the difference.Best wishes WG just fished smoking my Dartanian head pipe.Have enjoyed contributing to this forum.
Long ago I purchased an "Ambroseli Meerschaum" pipe. It's black and rusticated, and has "Tanganyika" engraved on the shank. This helps date it, since Tanganyika was the mainland part of present-day Tanzania, and existed from 1961 until 1964. I guess anyone can legally call anything "meerschaum". For me, "the real thing", as you call it, comes only from Turkey, specifically from the area of Eskihir. Meerschaum pipes may well be manufactured in Austria (or anywhere else). In fact, some very collectable pipes made from this material have been made in Austria. My own favorite meerschaum, which is not "fake", I'm smoking at the moment with some Pease Telegraph Hill, and has the name of the artisan, "i.Becker" on the shank. and "CAO" on the stem. A few years ago, in Paris, I had it treated by a specialist with whale oil, and since then (OK, I know it's not PC) it has colored beautifully.
We have a pipe from the 1800's along with a newspaper article telling who presented it to whom.If I hear back from you I'll send a photo of it.The beard has been broken off. Glued back on.
How much does a Kiko Meerschaum Amboselli pipe cost? How much is it valued?
Interesting and informative article
FYI: Anna Ridovics, curator of the Hungarian National Museum, Budapest, has studied the tale of Kovacs, the supposed first meerschaum pipe carver, and she has debunked this story. She has recently written a book about the origin of meerschaum pipe carvers in her country that is for sale at smokingpipes.com. And if the readers of this column desire more information about the history of this art form, you can contact me.
I'll add the following to the conversation. Regarding the comment about the first meerschaum pipe and its current location, the curator of the National Museum of Hungary, Anna Ridovics, wrote about this. And here is what I had later published about her discovery:“In the Twenty-first century, another Hungarian takes a turn at sorting through this age-old (tall) tobacco tale. Anna Ridovics, a curator at the National Hungarian Museum, Budapest, tendered her opinion in her revealing article: “True or false, in the Wake of a Legend The so called ‘Pipe of the first Meerschaum Carver’, Károly Kovács, in the Hungarian National Museum?,” published in the Journal of the Académie Internationale de la Pipe, Vol. 4 (2011). She delves into, at length, a number of alternative possibilities regarding Kovács’ role in meerschaum carving and reviews the museum’s inventory of meerschaum pipe bowls to determine if any accession on record can be attributed to either him or to the Count, and here is the most telling, the most critical excerpt of her treatise:“However, nothing has been able to substantiate the legend. The thorough research of Edit Haider—who was the first to write the history of Hungarian pipe-carving, and who for two decades was curator of the museum’s pipe collection—yielded nothing. No data about Károly Kovács was unearthed. Neither the famous pipe nor any document, inventory entry or deed of gift could be found in the collection of the Hungarian National Museum. The person of Count Andrássy has been identified by many as Gyula Andrássy (1823-1890), who it is true was the deputy diplomat in Constantinople, but more than 100 years later. It is therefore understandable that serious writers on the theme have been exceptionally sceptical as regards the truth of the legend.”
Hi there. I was gifted this pipe. How do I know if it is made of plaster, meerschaum, etc.? It looks old, off white, and unused. The box has a picture of a faded elephant on top and the 8 piece pipe rests in red liner inside the box. Each piece fits together nicely with plastic looking screws. There is no company information on the box or pipe. Please point me in the right direction.
@Renee Thank you for reaching out to us! We can do our best to help identify your pipe. Please feel free to send some photos to [email protected], be sure to include any stamping on the pipe(if there is any), photos of the box, the pipe, etc. and we'll see what we can dig up for you!
I just checked on the pipes to see how the name was spelled & found the article very interesting. My Great Grandfather’s last name was changed somewhat, when he came through Ellis Island, & I’ve been trying to find out how it was originally spelled. Immigration changed it to Mershimer, but Grandmother told me that her family was makers of the Meerschaum pipes. So do you, or anyone out there know the actual spelling of my Great Grandfathers name. Im now 80 years old & have always wondered. They were from Germany. Thank you.
Great read. Thank you for enlightening me.I have smoked a pipe for 54 years and bought my first Meerschaum pipe in the eighties. It gets very hot very quickly but then seems to ‘cool’ down.The stem has always ‘tasted’ bitter.( a lot like bitter alum which my mother used to dip my dummy in in order to discourage me from sucking it)It has Barling stamped on brass ring connecting stem to pipe and the initials EB and WB on the underside of the brass ring.The bowl is a honey colour with a 4 cm black ring at the top of the bowl.I haven’t smoked it a great deal over the years simply because of the bitter taste of the stem when smoking it.Has anyone any suggestions??
How about a rubber "softy" bit?
Unfortunately however much the tale of Kovacs and Andrassy has been reprised in books and online, it has been refuted by the museum authorities of the National Museum of Hungary, Budapest. There is no record of this cobbler and no record of his supposed second meerschaum pipe in its inventory.