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