| Pipe collecting is a fascinating hobby enjoyed by | | | | porcelain pipes. Among the most notable of these |
| people all over the world. Collecting antique pipes is a | | | | were the pipes made by the Meissen factory. These |
| two fold pleasure. The pride of ownership is further | | | | pipes featured neoclassical, Romanesque, mythological, |
| enhanced by the smoking pleasure these old pipes can | | | | entomological and military motifs. Porcelain proved to |
| bring. | | | | be unsuitable for smoking enjoyment because of its |
| When explorers in the sixteenth century were | | | | inability to breathe. Because of this, porcelain pipes |
| introduced to tobacco smoking by Native Americans, | | | | were not produced by U.S. pipe makers. |
| they in turn introduced Europeans to tobacco. This | | | | In the early 1800's one material became the favorite of |
| soon evolved into the clay pipe manufacturing industry. | | | | many pipe makers. Meerschaum had all the qualities to |
| Early clay pipes broke easily and were somewhat | | | | make a superior pipe. Easy to carve, and providing a |
| crude and plain in appearance. | | | | pleasant smoking experience, it quickly became the |
| By the nineteenth century pipe makers began | | | | material of choice for master pipe makers. |
| experimenting with other materials for their pipes. Their | | | | Between 1850 and 1925, this soft and pliant mineral, |
| aim was to make more durable and decorative pipes. | | | | which derives from Turkey and parts of Asia, inspired |
| But clay was still the most widely used material. Three | | | | the finest craftsmen in Berlin, London, Paris, Prague, |
| French pipe makers,Dumeril-Leurs, Fiolet and Gambier, | | | | Venice and Vienna to sculpt exquisite designs in fine |
| offered clay pipes in more than 3,000 different designs | | | | pipes. |
| featuring people, animals, plants and ornate or symbolic | | | | Briar was also becoming popular in the mid 1800's. Briar |
| motifs with enameled colors and raised fanciful | | | | is actually a variety of health shrub, Erica arborea,that |
| décor. | | | | is native to the Mediterranean coast. The briar pipe |
| Clay pipe makers in the United States tended to | | | | industry began in France in the village of St Claude, |
| produce less elaborate designs. They focused more | | | | where, by 1892, 66 different briar pipe factories thrived. |
| on functionality, not fanciful ornate designs. But one U.s. | | | | Because of the wood's superior grain, many briars |
| pipe maker was an exception and did not follow the | | | | were hand carved with ornate and delicate shapes |
| lead of his counterparts. A. Peyrau, a French immigrant | | | | and designs. |
| living in New York City in the late 1800's made a series | | | | Collecting antique pipes can be educational as well as |
| of terra-cotta pipe bowls with caricature heads of | | | | pleasurable. Antique pipes are an art form unto |
| contemporary celebrities such as P.T. Barnum, Joseph | | | | themselves. Whether you prefer collecting them rather |
| Pulitzer and William March "Boss" Tweed. | | | | than smoking, antique pipes can bring pleasure to their |
| At one time European pipe makers began making | | | | owner either way. |