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Pipemakers most commonly use briar to fashion smoking instruments; however, in the centuries' long history of tobacco and pipesmoking, briar is actually a relatively new material — clay and meerschaum both predate the introduction of briar in the mid-1800s. Of these two mediums, meerschaum is the most common still in production, with most meers originating with artisan carvers in Turkey.
You've likely encountered meerschaum pipes from brands like AKB and IMP, as well as others found in Smokingpipes' Turkish Estates, but perhaps you've hesitated from purchasing one, unsure exactly of its characteristics and benefits. Here's why you should start adding meerschaum pipes into your rotations:
1. Neutral Flavor
One of the attributes of briar is that the wood imparts a natural flavor to whatever tobacco is smoked in it. This is neither a benefit nor a disadvantage, though many pipesmokers do appreciate the inherent flavor of briar, often touting the differences between briar sourced from different regions. Meerschaum, on the other hand, presents a more neutral flavor profile, offering a more "pure" representation of tobacco blends. This isn't to say that blends will taste "better" in a meerschaum, only that the flavor of briar won't inform the smoker's palate. Such neutrality makes meerschaums ideal for sampling new tobacco mixtures and adds variety when placed in a rotation of briar pipes, even when smoking the same blend.
2. Intricate Finishes
As a mineral, the makeup of meerschaum allows makers to carve it into more intricate, detailed patterns — motifs that were they attempted with briar, would result in the wood cracking. This is perhaps the most obvious difference between briar and meerschaum pipes, the latter often rendered in elaborate characterizations of people, animals, or geometric designs. For those interested in striking, whimsical presentation, it doesn't get more so than in meerschaum pipes. However, more conservative finishes are still achievable with the pale material, the range of reserved smooth and rusticated to wildly carved pipes making meerschaum one of the most diverse pipemaking canvases.
3. Patina
If I had to personally choose the most desirable attribute of meerschaum pipes, it would be its natural disposition toward developing a patina. Yes, virgin-finished and lightly stained briar pipes will also patinate; however, they don't hold a candle to meerschaum. As meerschaum is smoked, the pure white material will gradually darken over time, incrementally growing from shades of tan and auburn to deeper red and orange hues, like a continuous sunset. It's a satisfying process that visually personifies the pipesmoker's relationship with the pipe, the time spent with it, and the progression of bowls smoked. Said satisfaction is similar to that of patiently and perfectly roasting a marshmallow above a campfire, but one roasted over months and years of commitment. Plus, the weathered, broken in look of a meerschaum pipe frankly looks really really good. Call me superficial, but that's reason enough for me to want meers in my collection.
4. Lightweight and Durable
Pound for pound, meerschaum is more lightweight than briar, so for those who prefer larger tobacco chambers, a meerschaum pipe will tend to be lighter and more comfortably clenched than one of briar of the same dimensions. Furthermore, since meerschaum isn't combustible, it's more heat-resistant than briar, with less risk of burnout, and while the pale mineral is still porous and moisture absorbent, it requires less "rest time" than briar. For these reasons, meerschaum pipes can be smoked more rigorously than briar. Workhorse pipes are certainly possible with briar, as many pipesmokers smoke the same briar pipe all throughout the day, but the longer it's smoked without rest, the more a briar's ability to highlight tobacco's flavor will diminish — hence the common convention of having a pipe rotation. Meerschaum is more forgiving in this regard, able to be smoked without the same diminishing returns in regard to flavor. Consider including meerschaum pipes in your rotation to give your briars a rest (corn cobs also work well for this), or if you're planning a weekend trip away and can't decide which one pipe to bring, try a meerschaum and see if it doesn't hold up better to days of continual smoking.
Tobacco has been smoked out of meerschaum for twice as long as briar, but with the massive comparative output of briar pipes, it's easy to forget about or remain ambivalent toward meers. It's not objectively better or worse than other pipemaking materials, but the pearly material does offer its own advantages and unique characteristics that add variety to the pipesmoking hobby.
With its distinct properties, though, also come different care needs; namely, meerschaum chambers shouldn't be allowed to develop a cake, as is often done with briar. Instead, the chamber should be wiped out after every bowl, most easily done by doubling over a pipe cleaner and running it all around the inside of the bowl. Pretty simple.
Check out our selection of meerschaum pipes on site now. With everything from classic shapes, to intricately patterned forms, to utterly individualistic depictions, meers cater to all aesthetic preferences.
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Comments
The patina is indeed a huge source of enjoyment in smoking a meerschaum. Like a corn cob, the dryness and lack of carry-over flavours make them practical as workhorses.
But I do not quite agree about the cake. All my meerschaums (and cobs) have cakes, and they work and taste just fine. A handsome cake is always the surest sign of a well-loved pipe.
I have pipemakers I know and trust. I just don’t know what I’m getting with Meerschaum pipes. However...I did hear of a guy named Baki in Turkey and I visit his website a couple of times a year. But I also want a calabash so why not kill two birds with one stone and get a calabash!!!
I am an old man of 81 and enjoying so much reading and learning about pipe and pipe smoking( I smoked cigars most of my life) my grand father smoked clay in fact he made a pipe box since he was a carver he was born in 1883 and passed in 1982 he was a grand old man with a history all his own regards a fan Don
I have been collecting, smoking and carving
meerschaum pipes for over 50 years. I will turn 81 in November. There are about 100 meerschaums in the collection of which I have cared about twenty or so. The antique meerschaums are fantastic in their detailing, many from the early 1800's.
I have used the Laxey MANX carving kits and still have some 8-10 kits to carve. I'm about to start carving another now that I am retired from my Architectural practice.. Keeps me off of the streets and out of trouble. Together with the Briars and Clays, Porcelains etc. I count over 700 tobacco pipes in the total collection.
David Jay Feinberg
I have been carving Meerschaum Pipes for over 50 years. I will be 81 this Nov. There are about 25 meerschaums of my own work and I am about to start another. Most of the pipes I have carved are from the Laxey MANX meerschaum carving kits.
The antiques meerschaums are very detailed and hail from the late 1700 to the early 1800.
Together with the Briars, Porcelains, Clay and Misc. material there are about 700 pipes in the total collection I don't smoke any more.
I have been smoking pipes since 1973. Every time I read one of your and informative articles I learn something. Thanks so much.
Yeah, I'm looking into Meerschaums right now!
Don't want to buy $100 to $200 briar pipes you can only smoke once a day. Heck, I would need dozens of them.
I really just want one or two or maybe three good pipes but by the end of the day I would have used up my briar pipes smoking time. No evening smokes for me.
My next pipe might be a meerschaum lined pipe and maybe later a fool-blown meerschaum. But I really like some briar pipes but I just can't see paying that much for the smokes I would get and the waiting time.
I was thinking (I know it's dangerous) if someone came up with a solution to reuse (er smoke) briar pipes endlessly every day very quickly?
You know, some tricks?
Like perhaps cleaning them with alcohol after it cools down then putting in front of a fan for 15 minutes. Presto ready to re-smoke like it rested for a day or two?
Or just simply propping in front of fan for 30 minutes does the trick?
Stuff like that. Imagine that? Might change the whole industry. ;)
Try wiping out with brandy.. I use Christian brothers. Pour some in a glass and dip a part of a paper towel. Careful with dousing the tenon and stem end. It can sell the inside and you can easily snap a stem. I use a touch of bees wax to make the stem easier to put in.
@Astrocomical A fan helps to dry a briar, but not by much. It shaves maybe a couple of percent off the wait time: not worth it when you consider the trouble. A "sniff test" seems to be the most reliable way to determine when a pipe is ready to smoke. Anything short of dry and sweet is rushing it, and likely to end in disappointment.
But there is a quick, easy and (I think) perfect solution for your case: corn cob pipes. My MM Washingtons smoke every bit as good as my Dunhill DR **, so there's no sacrifice in quality of smoke. And the patina of a Washington takes on the look of a Dutch oil painting with time.
Corn cobs smoke dry, and they're inexpensive. You can buy a dozen for less than a single briar pipe. Rotating them, you'll never have to wait for a nice, dry, flavorful smoke.
Thanks for the tips. I do have a couple of corncob pipes and they do smoke sweet. I have enough cheaps ones that I never had to smoke one twice in the same day.
One thing I did learn is NEVER EVER to get a corncob wet or you'll ruin the outside. They'll look dirty and brown (corncob rust?) and start coming apart.
Keep them dry and they'll stay looking like new. I also don't like hardwood pipes that are NOT briar. Don't care for them and won't buy another one.
Please send me an online catalogue. Thank you.