Pipes of various materials

Apart from the well known raw materials for pipes, such as clay, porcelain, meerschaum and briar, all kind of unexpected materials were used to make a pipe. What to think of a pipe carved out of a piece of agate stone, with its exclusive appearance due to the shading in the semi-precious stone? One of a kind is also the pipe made out of the crab’s pincettes, even carved with a folk theme.

Although not really rare, the glass pipes are odd indeed: not very suitable for a pipe, one should say. The same accounts for a metal pipe, which distributes the heath of the bowl very quickly. In the harbor city of Kampen (Netherlands) a silver cigar pipe was regarded as the traditional wedding present for the groom. In Sweden the farmers used to smoke pipes made out of forged iron, of course mounted with a wooden stem to cool down the smoke.

As organic materials buffalo horn and ivory are known, the horn in fact wide spread as a material for mouthpieces. From 1870 onwards all kinds of artificially made materials come on the market. Vulcanite is one of these, needing an inner bowl made out of ceramic or meerschaum to protect the rubber. In the 1930’s these bowls were even attached with a screw-system to a briar pipe.

Metal stems have become common from the 1930’s onwards, especially the lightweight aluminum with its cooling abilities. Many thousands of the well known Falcon and Kirsten system pipes were sold and even today this pipe still has its retro-design aficionados.
Tobacco pipe with tall four sided bowl in agate mounted with silver, Germany, Idar-Oberstein, 1820-1880. The pincettes of a crab used as a tobacco pipe, the surface carved with a primitive decoration. Colonial work, 1870-1900.
A simple glass cigar holder, on the red surface decorated with enamel dots in colors. Belgium?, 1880-1910.
Cheroot holder in silver printed in a mould and in Holland a popular gift at weddings. The Netherlands, Kampen, 1870-1910.
Popular Bavarian pipe bowl called Stummel in porcelain handpainted with a portrait of a pipe smoker, cast bronze mounting. Germany, 1830-1850.
Tobacco pipe in copper decorated with silver accents to resemble an embossed Gouda clay pipe bowl. Germany?, 1750-1850.
Tobacco pipe in iron with an English styled bowl and half globular lid, the wooden stem is missing. Sweden, 1850-1900.
A so called tip, a cheroot holder carved out of mother of pearl, the rim in gold. France ?, 1890-1910. Unusual holders for cigars in buffalo horn, in between bowl and mouthpiece imitation fur. France, 1880-1920. Cigarette holder in buffalo horn, the base of the bowl a football or rugby shoe, the bowl resembles a leather ball, Indonesia, 1950-1980.
Tobacco pipe made in ivory, the stem some bands in ebony wood, Congo, 1950-1960.
Pipe in vulcanite shaped like a negro woman with pearl necklace, the details accentuated with paint, clay inner bowl, France, 1935-1950.
American system pipe with aluminium stem showing cooling ribs and housing an ingenious filter system, the bowl is interchangeable. United States, Kirsten,1960-1980.
Tobacco pipe in vulcanized rubber shaped like a womans leg, the tobacco is burnt in a briar bowl screwed on the base. France, Saint-Claude, 1935-1950. The design of this tobacco pipe is inspired on a revolver, the bowl is in briar wood and screws on. France, Saint-Claude, 1935-1955.
Special cheroot holder in aluminium with a cooling system for an optimal dry smoke. United States, Kirsten,1960-1980.
Still in the original box: a system pipe in aluminium with cooling ribs round the bowl, and spare briar bowl. 1960-1970.

Smokiana pipeshop in Amsterdam is specialized in collectors items
on pipes and smoking © copyright Pijpenkabinet Foundation, Amsterdam