Meerschaum
Meerschaum is a very porous rock that looks like chalk and that is found in Turkey. Very malleable material when worked with water, meerschaum quickly hardens and becomes fragile like porcelain.
What is interesting about this material is that it can naturally filter tobacco's harmful substances. It is also heatproof.
Meerschaum pipes:
These pipes are most of the time unique models. Meerschaum is indeed a material that allows to sculpt different shapes. You will therefore find meerschaum pipes sculpted with human faces, animals, or even claws for example.
They are sold in a tailored box.
The white color of meerschaum will change over the uses and will turn yellow.
Fragile, these pipes are to be handled with care. Genuine meerschaum pipes might also be more expensive and will start at 180 euros. Most of them are made in Turkey.
Pipes with a meerschaum-lined bowl:
Less fragile, these pipes will benefit from the properties of briar and meerschaum. They are less fragile since the bowl is made with wood. But they will also filter tobacco's harmful substances like pipes entirely made with meerschaum.
These pipes have most of the time more classic shapes.
Such pipes will be less expensive and you can find a classic one starting from 100 euros. Some of these pipes are made in Saint-Claude.
Discover pipes with a meerschaum-lined bowl
Differences between meerschaum pipes and pipes with a meerschaum-lined bowl:
| Characteristics | Meerschaum pipes | Pipes with a meerschaum-lined bowl |
|---|---|---|
| Origin and manufacturing process | Made from natural meerschaum, most of the time found in the Mediterranean Sea or Black Sea. These pipes are carefully made by experienced craftspeople in Turkey. | Solid meerschaum that most of the time comes from Turkey is used. Then, the piece of meerschaum is put in the bowl of the briar pipe. |
| Smoking | Meerschaum is naturally porous, allowing it to filter tobacco's harmful substances and humidity, for an even more pleasant tobacco tasting. | Even though it is less porous than meerschaum, the piece of meerschaum inside the bowl also allows to retain humidity and makes the smoke smoother. |
| Aesthetic | Meerschaum pipes are often considered as works of art, sculpted with unique silhouettes and shapes. | Pipes with meerschaum-lined bowls often have classic shapes and finishes. |
| Price | Meerschaum pipes are more expensive because of the time required to create such models and because meerschaum of great quality is difficult to find. | The price of pipes with a meerschaum-lined bowl may vary but they are most of the time more affordable than meerschaum pipes. |
Calabash pipes:
These pipes have a tobacco chamber made with meerschaum. Each model is unique and increasingly difficult to find, so you should expect a corresponding budget to acquire one.
Did you know? Founded in Vienna in 1904, the Strambach Vienna house remained for more than a century an absolute reference for calabash pipes. Strambach was long one of the very few manufacturers of handcrafted meerschaum and calabash pipes within the European Union. These vintage Austrian Strambach pipes were renowned worldwide for their unique construction: a natural gourd (specially cultivated in South Africa), a removable bowl made of genuine meerschaum, and a high-quality amber stem. Unfortunately, these traditional calabash pipes made from natural gourd are no longer produced today. In current productions, the gourd has been replaced by wood and the amber by acrylic. Even so, the smoking experience remains excellent thanks to the large expansion chamber beneath the bowl, which significantly softens the smoke.
Bastien, La Pipe Rit
No matter your budget or what kind of pipe you are looking for, meerschaum pipes or pipes with a meerschaum-lined bowl are perfect for smokers who tend to let their pipe overheat when smoking. This is a good idea for smokers who burn their pipe.
Jean, La Pipe Rit
