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Note: This is a refreshed blog post from an article originally published on February 7, 2020.
Pipes are works of art. From ornate and artisan-made Figural creations to briarwood workhorses, each one represents a vast history that is deeply interesting — or at least it is to me; it's one of my favorite aspects about being a writer here and I want to share more about one of my favorite pipe mediums: Meerschaum pipes. We've previously talked about the appealing characteristics of Meerschaum pipes and some of our favorite figural Meers in previous posts if you are interested. Today we will be diving into a bit of the history of these unique pipes and noting some of the most popular Meerschaum pipes on the market in the modern day, continuing the legacy of the exquisite and regal meers of the past.
What Is Meerschaum?
Sepiolite
Meerschaum pipes are among the oldest smoking pipes created, and are also crafted from one of the most intriguing materials. Meerschaum, also known as sepiolite, is a white clay material that is distinguished by its flavor-neutral smoking characteristics, lightweight build, ability to absorb moisture, excellent heat resistance, and my personal favorite aspect: their ability to patinate from use over time.
For the linguistic nerds out there, "sepiolite" is derived from the Greek word sepion, which translates to "cuttlebone," due to the mineral's resemblance to the inner shell of the cuttlefish. Its namesake is attributed to Ernst Friedrich Glocker, a mid-19th-century German mineralogist. The mineral's exact origin geologically is not known for sure, though one theory suggests that meerschaum is the product of the shells and bones of small prehistoric sea creatures, combined and compressed over millions of years. Imagine that: your Meerschaum pipe might just be a result of curious beings from a time long ago, joined together in a stunning way.
While sepiolite derives from Greek, "Meerschaum" is comprised of two German words: meer, meaning "sea," and schaum, meaning "foam." The visual similarity between the mineral and actual sea foam, along with the medium's lightweight and high porosity, is believed to be the inspiration behind this name, given originally by Abraham Gottlob Werner in 1788. The mineral, Magnesium hydrosilicate, was allegedly found floating on the surface of the Black Sea by sailors, much like seafoam, hence the name. Though the origin of the name itself is German, Meerschaums today are associated with Turkish pipe making.
Introduction of Meerschaum Pipes
The introduction of meerschaum in pipe making has been debated to this day. The most popular account is more industry legend and folklore than historical fact, which attributes this medium to a Budapest, Hungarian, noble named Count Andrassy during the early 18th century, with 1723 being the most referenced date. Allegedly, the Count served as an envoy to Turkey and brought two blocks of meerschaum back to Hungary with him. These blocks were handed to a cobbler named Karl Kovacs (also noted as Kowates) who was a pipe smoker and shoemaker commissioned to carve them into tobacco pipes.
Once Karl completed these pipes, the Count kept one and had him keep the other as a form of payment for his services. Karl smoked his creation over several weeks while making shoes and he made a curious discovery: After unintentionally dripping cobbler's beeswax on the pipe, he saw that the wax greatly improved the meerschaum's ability to color, leading him to cover the whole thing in the beeswax. After this application, the pipe's natural patina spread out evenly across the stummel the more he smoked the pipe.
Whether this is the true story or not, somewhere along the way, the Meerschaum pipe was introduced, and they became a hot commodity in Europe in the 19th century, made popular before the creation of briar pipes. An article on Mr. G's Cigars & Pipes website notes an alternate introduction of Meerschaum pipes, dating its firsts a bit earlier: "The first pipes made of meerschaum were crafted in the Ottoman Empire in the mid-1600s. Meerschaum was used because it was easy to work with and carved into intricate shapes and designs. After the fall of the Ottoman Empire, the art of carving Meerschaum pipes spread throughout Europe."
In another blog post from La Pipe Rit on the subject, Vienna is noted as the mecca of Meerschaum pipe production: "The invention was therefore Hungarian, but Vienna will become the international capital of meerschaum pipes in the late XVIIIth century (with the famous 'Strambach Vienna')."
Various articles on Pipedia also discuss Meerschaum pipes in great detail. Ben Rapaport's knowledge on the subject has provided great insight into their history. In relation to the beginnings of Meerschaum pipe making, he says:
Meerschaum carving began as a cottage industry in Pesth (later Budapest), Hungary, in the first half of the 18th century and it spread west across Europe to Vienna, Nuremberg, Ruhla, Paris, London and, eventually, to the United States. Ateliers engaged graduates of academies (typically trained in art history, painting, material analysis and the technical science of stone, clay and Plaster of Paris), alongside journeymen and apprentices to learn the trade and how to use special-purpose, handmade tools. Early on, the most remunerative work for a sculptor was carving meerschaum. Myriad nameless artisans collaborated with the craftsmen of related guilds: jewelers, metal smiths, wood turners, and those who made pipe stems, mouthpieces, and assorted other pipe fittings to produce a finished pipe ready for sale.
However, unlike the widely available clay pipes of the time, which were inexpensive, Meerschaum pipes were way more exclusive to the wealthy as they had to be carved by a commissioned artist. Because of this rarity, the Meerschaum pipe became more of a stylish accessory, which was likely one of the reasons intricately carved figural masterpieces came to be well-loved and desired.
These intricate pipes were viewed by the upper class as art objects, many purchasing them simply to display on their shelves as a sculpture of sorts. Even so, some still wanted their pipes to take on unique colors, so the wealthy would hire people just to smoke their Meers, or instructed the pipe maker to smoke the pipe for several weeks before it was delivered to the owner so that it came to them with an already developed patina. Though we might find this bizarre by modern standards, this was the norm at the time.
The belle epoque of antique Meerschaum pipe production was between 1850-1920, with artisans crafting these beauties with a pointed attention to detail and masterful carving required to form a block of meerschaum into a completed pipe for smoking. "No other pipe medium goes through such a tedious, labor-intensive process," Ben Rapaport states.
It is interesting to note the amount of artisans prevalent during those 70-or-so years, as referenced in one of Rapaport's's articles:
A collective of artisans in Europe, England, and the United States — an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 tobacco-trade workers in Germany, about 150 masters and 800 workmen in Austria, an unknown number in England and France and, according to a May 1903 issue of The Tobacco Worker, around 300 skilled carvers in the United States — produced a colossal constellation of extraordinary and breathtaking Meerschaum pipe... Most of these workmen studied at technical or art schools or apprenticed with master-carvers.
The Fall of Meerschaum Production
In the mid-19th-century, Meerschaum pipes saw a stark decline in demand. Clay pipes were replaced by briar pipes when François Comoy introduced these wooden workhorses in the 1850s, which impacted the Meerschaum industry.
Turkey was concerned about the decline in sales, leading them to elect to prohibit the exportation of the raw materials in hopes of promoting local craftsmanship in the '70s. "This event spelt the end of the European production of Meerschaum pipes. Nowadays, genuine Meerschaum pipes are exclusively made in Turkey with meerschaum extracted from specialized mines in Eskişehir (West of Ankara and South-East of Istanbul)," according to La Pipe Rit.
Most Meerschaum pipes are created from these deposits that are extracted raw, though some are crafted from reconstituted meerschaum, or pressed meerschaum, including residues and dust that are collected often in Africa and compressed with a binding agent to make a rock that is carved into a pipe. These, however, aren't as high quality as genuine Meers and are tougher to carve on, as noted by La Pipe Rit: "They are less porous and will not change color well. Moreover, depending on the binding agent used, the latter may give an aftertaste to the smoke."
Rapaport describes the decline in Meerschaum production, stating, "Nicholas Storey believes that the beginning of the end for the Meerschaum occurred in the 19th century. 'Some have sought to explain the attraction of the briar pipe for the British gentleman on the basis that plain clay pipes were seen as essentially working-class accessories and hardly the sort of thing to be seen walking around and smoking; moreover, they were frail and liable to snap.'"
Rapaport attributes the fall to "two different forces," with the end of World War I as he states, "An unfounded fear that all known deposits of meerschaum had been exhausted and manufacturers of Meerschaum pipes and cigar holders everywhere would go out of business, and the advent and acceptance of the briar pipe... Pipe-smoking had become cosmopolitan and large, elaborately ornamental Meerschaum pipes had no place in gentrified society."
The popularity has declined in recent decades, but the artistry behind these pipes remains in Turkish Meerschaum pipe making today. "Turkey is known for its elaborately carved Meerschaum pipes, and has brought the art form back to life," according to Pipedia, though it is to be noted that the artistry of the craftsman in that golden era has not been replicated, with skills of aptitude and artistic intuition at play in Turkish production rather than the learned formal skills in carving the sculptural meers of yesteryear.
Meerschaum Pipe-Making Process
Antique Meerschaum pipes were much more ornate and detailed than the products of today's Meers. According to Rapaport's account:
Almost any motif one can name was expressed in this medium, the articulation of dramatic imagery in one-of-a-kind pieces as miniature, architectural statements that summoned all the magic and mystique of diminutive works of art. The range and breadth of selection in that day was extraordinary in subject matter, size, shape, ornamentation, and décor, each pipe different, one from another. Each represented an unusual and rare message, each intricate, fascinating, and unusual; often, the challenge was to determine the impulse of the carver, because each creation was a life-like representation of personalities, events, animals, landmarks, erotica and more. Literature, paintings, and opera, artists, and composers, respectively, were opportune motifs for the carver.
The inspiration for these pipes came from all manner of sources. Although Meerschaum pipes of today are not nearly as complex, from then to now, the process of turning meerschaum from a block into a pipe is a lengthy process, beginning with its initial harvesting.
Turkey is the main source of meerschaum utilized in modern pipe making due to its purity, color, and density, though deposits have been found in various other places, such as France, Spain, Morocco, the Republic of South Africa, Greece, and even in the United States.
Many deposits are found deeply buried and must be mined under dangerous conditions from tunnels and pits that run hundreds of feet below ground level. Some are found on the ground's surface as well. Once they are brought to the surface level, the blocks are covered in clay and are thoroughly washed, with workers utilizing specific knives to remove the clay and any flaws that arise. The blocks are typically damp at this point, so they must go through a drying process to remove moisture. They are placed in low-temperature ovens for several weeks at a time, or in natural sunlight, until the moisture has evaporated.
Once dry, the blocks are polished and waxed. An expert grader then has the opportunity to 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 on 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.
Next, the softened block goes to the carver, who is responsible for the shaping, shaving, and cutting off of any extra material. Then, it is passed onto another artisan who typically 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 into its designated form and finish. It is to be emphasized that the process of crafting a Meerschaum pipe is very difficult, as one small mistake with the lathe or cutting knife can ruin the entire bowl or destroy the entire block.
From there, 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.
Back in the golden era of Meerschaum pipe making, turned genuine amber mouthpieces were fitted to these pipes. Rapaport describes these amplifying the design in one of his articles, calling them the untouched royalty of pipe making for 75 years' time: "When the bowl was joined with a turned amber mouthpiece, the pipe became more than just another utensil to hold tobacco; it became a combination of alchemy and art. The Meerschaum earned the title 'queen of pipes,' as well as 'king of pipes.'"
Coloring Bowl by IMP Meerschaum
Due to the rarity and fragility of amber stems, however, it is now less commonly used. Synthetic resin, or acrylic, stems offer a wider array of colors and designs, and vulcanite selections are more comfortable for many pipe smokers.
Once the design is 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 would damage the material.
The stummels are then placed in boiling white beeswax for a few minutes and then set out to dry before eventually being polished with a soft cloth. To protect the pipe, often a special fitted case will be crafted for the pipe before it is shipped out for sale.
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. However, as mentioned before, pipes crafted from block meerschaum tend to smoke cooler than pressed meerschaum and will patinate with time and use, making it significantly higher in quality. 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.
Why Choose A Meerschaum Pipe?
Given the popularity of briar pipes and other mediums over meerschaum, why are Meerschaum pipes still made today? Meerschaum is a natural mineral that is heatproof and that filters tobacco due to its porousness, affording a cooler and drier smoke. Another property that makes Meers stand out is that they are excellent pipes to smoke multiple tobaccos in, preventing any ghosting: the taste of one tobacco won't linger in the chamber and change the taste of the next.
The patination aspect is perhaps the most appealing: The relationship between the Meerschaum pipe and the smoker is a special one, with continued use resulting in beautifully unique patinations over time, from white to yellow to anywhere from red to brown. It's a stunning aspect, and one that makes every Meer one-of-a-kind.
Popular Meerschaum Pipes Today
Today, Meerschaum pipes represent both fine artistry from the pipe makers that create them as well as an excellent companion for smoking, with the pipe smoker and the pipe both working in tandem to create a beautiful patina that is individual to each piece.
Although today's Turkish market is dwindling, with carvers retiring, passing away, and young artisans not taking their place, and many of the designs are less ornate than in days of yore, the history of Meers persists in such makers as AKB Meerschaum and IMP Meerschaum, as well as Barling selections from Benjamin Barling of England, dating back to 1812, where he also incorporates silverwork into his designs. Additionally, there are often Meerschaum estate pipes that pop up on-site. There are plenty of stunning creations in our portfolio on-site from these famed brands to be explored. Whether you're a Meerschaum fan already or are curious about this pipe material, I hope this article has provided you with a greater understanding and appreciation for the art and historical significance of meerschaum pipes, the former royal medium, crowned for its intricate detail and unmatched status in high society.
Bibliography
- Bastien. (2020, October 2). Everything that you have to know about Meerschaum pipes. La Pipe Rit.
- Newman, L. (2023, June 14). Discover the beauty of a meerschaum pipe - a classic collectible choice. Mr Gs Cigar and Pipe Shop.
- Rapaport, B. (2023a, January). Eye candy for the tobacco pipe connoisseur. 19th-century meerschaum pipes in word-pictures. Pipedia.
- Rapaport, B. (2023b, September). A magical mystery tour: Meerschaum, the Queen (or king) of tobacco pipes. Pipedia.
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.
I've smoked a meerschaum pipe since I was in the British military , I love over the years smoking it , it's given me lots of pleasure and has become my trademark when doing my photography.