WHAT IS MEERSCHAUM

Meerschaum translated from German means “ Sea Foam” This name reflects the meerschaum qualities of light weight and white color. It is one of the most porous substances found in the nature and will not burn out. Therefore, it is considered as the perfect material for a cool, dry smoke. Unlike briar, Meerschaum is a mineral ( Hydrous Magnesium Silicate )

WHERE IS IT FOUND AND HOW IS IT CARVED

The highest quality Meerschaum deposits are in only one area of the world, the open plains of central Turkey which surrounds the city of Eskisehir. Meerschaum is mined wet from depths of up to 400 feet. Our carvers then transform this block raw stone in to smooth, elegant shapes and intricately carved designs, have been handed down from generation to generation by using the same hand carving techniques.

HOW DO I BREAK IN MY NEW MEERSCHAUM PIPE

There is no need  to break in your new pipe. In contrast to briar, the natural quality of Meerschaum prevents caking while it allows you to enjoy the true taste of your favorite blend.

HOW DO I COLOR MY PIPE

Because of this porous nature, Solid Block Meerschaum’s most fantastic characteristic is its gradual process of changing colors from white to a deep or golden brown. Since each stone is unique, each pipe will color at various speeds and shades type coloring differs; according to your smoking habits; the different types of tobacco you use and the amount of time you smoke your pipe.

HOW DO I TREAT MY NEW MEERSCHAUM PIPE

Do not be afraid to handle your pipe, as long as your hands are not excessively greasy or dirty. This Meerschaum pipe has been carved for you to enjoy its cool smoke so HANDLE IT WITH PRIDE

Unlike a briar pipe, which must be dried after each smoke, your Meerschaum can be smoked many times a day because of its absorbing qualities.

HOW SHOULD I CLEAN MY MEERSCHAUM PIPE

If cake starts forming in your pipe, which is not unusual, lightly ream it out, being careful not to scrape or dig into the pipe itself. Use a pipe cleaner inside the stem and be gentle when separating and cleaning inside the shank. If your pipe becomes dirty, use cotton or soft cloth with a drop of after shave lotion ( a similar product containing a slight trace of alcohol will also work). Gently wipe the pipe, clean when it is cool. Never boil or scrape your pipe.

We would like to thank you for choosing the best hand carved meerschaum pipe in the world. ENJOY YOUR PIPE

Making the pipe rest

Aiming to make the customers think that this hobby isn’t that expensive the sellers generally tell them that they should use only one pipe many times in a day then make it rest for 1-2 days. But this appliance affects the smoking quality badly. The most accurate way of smoking is to use 1 pipe only one time in a day then make it rest for at least 1 day for merschaum pipes but for briar pipes at least 2 days. This both makes the pipe relieved and increases it quality , greatly. In order to apply this method correctly one can give numbers to pipes and smoke these pipes according to order of the numbers.

After smoking the pipe the remaining tobacco or tar that remains in bowl must be cleaned out. While doing this process in meerschaum pipes one must be extremely careful , because the pipe spoon, pipe reamer, etc. tools may damage or scratch the pipe.

In order to protect the pipe from blots we must keep our hands clean. Meerschaum pipes come out after getting polished with beeswax. Especially, being sensitive to outer effects while it is warm , is you touch the pipe with dirty hands then this dirt will pass on the pipe, which would end up in unstable darkening. In addition to this you must pay attention cleanliness of the pipe racks and pipe stands that you put the pipe on, if you don’t the dirt they possessed will remain trace on the pipe.

Protection of the Meerschaum Pipe

The tools that are used in cleaning process of pipes must be used carefully and the pipe must not be forced. Otherwise this may end up in cracks and corrosions.

Mouthpiece must not be forced and must rotate counter-clockwise while removing and while putting it in , it must be rotated clockwise. Otherwise the pipe’s connection parts would be worn off and get slacked.

Never try to remove the remainders out of the pipe by hitting it to a shoe heel , corner of a table , an ashtray, etc. like you see on movies.

Pay attention to pipe furniture that they must not be damaged which would scratch the pipe. Fast smoking, too much smoking ,warming up too much makes the pipe darken with no balance of inner and outer layers.

Smoking Quality

– Some briar pipe users use whiskey, lemon , honey etc. to get a fine smoke but these types of materials are not suggested to meerschaum pipe because these affects the quality in a bad way,  I suggest you aromatic tobacco instead

– Even though the outlook of the pipe gets better ,  beeswax must not be used after the first appliance or the smoking quality will get affected badly.

– As i mentioned before carbon cake increases the smoking quality and pleasantness of the meerschaum pipes like does at briar pipes, regardless of what some web sites say, while it is not a needed material for meerschaum’s at all.

– Again as I said before , you should make the meerschaum pipe rest for at least a day after every smoking process which will increase the smoking pleasantness greatly.

Brief Historical Account of Meerschaum

At first Meerschaum was the two horse statues that bring in 20.000 old France silver liras to Puget which was made at 1652 by the French Artist Louis Pierre Puget, who was a student of Berini, in the garden of Vaux-Le-Vicomte Castle in France .At these times we see 9 art masterpieces at the height of 17 cm. that were worked up wonderfully of Puget which he considered them with all the details. These works of arts are by order The Girl , The Eagle , The tree and its body , Victory Monument , The Relaxing Bushed Brigant , are the first Meerschaum works. Moreover the Meerschaum was worked up before 1652. Being not able to establish the artist’s names and the regions they were , we are starting the history at 1652.

We see the finished pipe, which was formed by the first meerschaum , was made by a noble Hungarian Evangelist  who made it from two raw meerschaums that were given as a gift from the Sultan of the era. Giving these two raw meerschaums to his friend Karol Kowates, who is a fancier of pipes, Hungarian Evengalist Count Andrasay wants him to make something from them. And Kowates makes the first meerschaum pipes that are displayed in Budapest Museum now. The interest to meerschaum increases in Europe ,then the first meerschaum factory gets build in Ruhla Town,Germany. By 1745 there were 27 factories where over 150 craftsmen work in , in parallel with this the workers number who work in meerschaum mines increases from 1600 to 6000 in Turkey.

Meerschaum pipe was first shown to people by the craftsman Kristof Treiss in Leipzig Fair at 1750.

By 1777 in Frankfurt Industry Fair two craftsmen “Johanýn Wolfgank Wagner and Yakop Helmann” came from Ruhla showed their products which bring them plumes .- At 1812 meerschaum found its second importer firm named Benjamin Barling which is an established firm in London.

England draws attention of the world at 1851s for being a country which is able to use the industrial explosions perfectly and utilizing the opportunities as well. Thanks to meerschaum factories and their product the Crylal Plale Exhibition turns into a world fair.

B.Bading is an existing firm even now and like it a well-known firm GBD i.e. “ GannevalBondier Donniger” which was formed by three friends who have these names, starts meerschaum production at 1851,in France. By 1852 a second Matthissa France Firm was established which has 80 craftsmen working in. At 1850s the factory number in Germany increases significantly and with no doubt we see that the German Industry affects the Hungarian , Italian and Austrian Industries as well with  Hitler’s regime. By this time we see there are at least 50 firms and 10-15 craftsmen in every of these firms just in Austria. It is impossible not to talk about Vienna, because Vienna is the only place that gives spirit to meerschaum and Vienna surely is the centre of places that gives  woman beauty to meerschaum and makes the mythology work up with meerschaum well.

By 1850 the number of craftsmen in Europe was 1500 and this quick widening of the meerschaum industry  between 1851 and 1854 makes us see “Brothers M. and Emannel Lzapek” at Czechoslovakia , “E.R” at Belgium Brussels , “Arthur Schneider” at East Germany Leipzig , “Snaland” at Sweden and having the title of first woman pipe producer “Helene” at Bulgaria Sofia set up one each firms. At that period which the meerschaum’s exporting was hundred thousands covered money there comes a new market on the scene. Calcuta at Middle-East, India and D.Macropolo opens three factories at Bombay , Sri Lanka, Colombo .

In the very end meerschaum was carried to America by the European artist F.J.Kaldenberg in raw form in amounts of full two chests, which is nearly amount to 300 pipe all , at 1855.The first American Pipe Factory was build on William Demuth Main Road and the first meerschaum pipe store was opened in the name of William Demuth Company. Year 1862,  the second store at Manhattan, year 1862 follows the firm of this store,year 1896 the biggest meerschaum factory was opened at the south end of 101th Main Road Richmond Hill Queens, At Park Lane.

Speaking about meerschaum and America, we shouldn’t forget Vienna craftsman Gustav Fisher who migrated to America by 1881.The fisher family made meerschaum managing in a direct line as 6 generations from 1742 to 1975, that is exactly 233 years. Born at 1887, Jr.Fisher was already a 74 year old pipe carver, who started this job at 14,when he died.

Source : savun