Types and history of smoking pipes.

The history of pipe smoking began as early as in the 15^th century, when tobacco and pipe-like devices were used as a part of different religious ceremonies.

People used different types of pipes for medical and religious purposes before the 15th century A.D. The Aztecs, Mayans, Toltec civilizations, and other Native American cultures used pipes to heal sicknesses and diseases and to commemorate religious and commercial events. In Africa, various cultures breathed in or smelt different herbs through tubes also for medicinal or religious purposes. Recent archaeological evidence has proved that the Egyptians used some sort of tobacco even for mummification purposes. Anyway, it was the Mayans of Mexico and Central America that used tobacco in a pipe-like device for smoking.

Explorers from the New World got acquainted with the natives' smoking pipes. In 1519 for example Cortez wrote in his diary that Mexican tribes were smoking from "perfumed reeds".  The Spanish first imported tobacco to the Old World to use them as medicinal herbs.  Those times inhaling smoke was thought to be good for the lungs.

Soon tobacco became widespread in Europe. Jean Nicot, the French Ambassador to Portugal, used powdered tobacco leaves in order to cure many maladies including migraines and minor aches and pains. He was honored by having the tobacco plant named "Nicotiana Tobacum”. During this time people of the lower classes started using tobacco in clay pipes for pleasure. Introduction of pipe smoking as pleasure to the court of Queen Elizabeth was made by   Sir Walter Raleigh in 1590. By early 17 century pipe smoking had spread over Europe and into India, China, and Japan.

In 1603 King James of England began a severe anti-smoking campaign. Thirty years later all tobacconists had to be licensed otherwise they were to pay taxes.

By the 18^th century Europeans got used to snuffing tobacco but in the United States pipe smoking was still alive. Pipe smoking started flourishing in Europe during the Victorian Era. Cigars were a social pastime while pipes were aimed for more private and personal. By World War II pipes were associated with officers, philosophers, and other thinkers while cigarettes were for the masses.

The so called period of the Golden Age of Pipes, took place during the late 1970’s to mid 1980’s when smokers began to switch from cigarettes to the true pleasure of pipe smoking.

Materials and construction

Briar

These days the majority of pipes sold today, are made of briar ((French) bruyère). Briar is a particularly good wood for pipe making because of many reasons. The first and most important is that briar is resistant to fire. The second is that it absorbs moisture. Briar is cut from the root burl of the Tree heath (Erica arborea), which is native to the Mediterranean region. A synthetic material called brylon is also in use. Brylon has many similar properties as briar.

Meerschaum

Meerschaum (hydrated magnesium silicate), a mineral found in central Turkey. Meerschaum is very flexible and lots of decorative and figural shapes may be carved of it. Meerschaum has been used since the 17th century and, with clay pipes, represented the most common medium for pipes before the introduction of briar as the material of choice in the 19th century.  

Clay

 Low-quality "clay" pipes are made from porcelain slip poured into a mold. They are porous, and of very low quality, and add unwanted flavors and taste to a smoke. The best clays are made in a labor-intensive process that requires beating all air out of the clay, hand-rolling each pipe before molding it, piercing with a fine wire, and careful firing. Traditionally, clay pipes are not glazed.  In comparison to other types of pipes Clays burn "hot”, so they are often difficult for most pipe-smokers to use. Others claim that a well-made clay pipe gives a "pure" smoke, with no flavor addition from the pipe bowl.

Calabash

Calabash gourds have long made prized pipes, but they are labor-intensive and these days quite expensive. Because of this expense, pipes with bodies made of wood (usually mahogany) instead of gourd, but the same classic shape are being sold as calabashes. Both wood and gourd pipes are functionally the same. They both have an air chamber beneath the bowl which serves to cool, dry, and mellow the smoke. There are also briar pipes being sold as calabashes. These typically do not have an air chamber and are named only because of their external shape.

The construction of a Calabash pipe generally consists of a downward curve that ends with an upcurve where the bowl sits. This low center of gravity allows for the user to easily hold the pipe by the mouth alone, leaving his hands free.

Corncob

"Corncob" pipes made from maize cobs are cheap and effective. First the cobs are dried for two years. Then to make a bowl shape they are hollowed out. The bowls are dipped in a plaster-based mixture and varnished or lacquered on the outside. Shanks made from pine wood are then inserted into the bowls. The first and largest manufacturer of corncob pipes is Missouri Meerschaum, located in Washington, Missouri in the USA. Corncob pipes are often recommended as a "Beginners pipe" but they are equally valued by both learners, and experienced smokers as well.

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