What Can You Tell Me About These Clay Pipes?

kkeegan · Oct 21, 2013

I bought a pipe rack last week and it came with a collection of clay pipes, some of which do not even fit in the pipe rack!

I know nothing about clay pipes and I've never seen clays like these. Are they just decorative or are they to be smoked?

This is about 16 inches long and the bowl is over 2 inches high.

This is about the same dimensions as the other pipes.

The broken pipe's bowl is about the same size as the red clay pipe and the smaller one is the same length.
What can you tell me about these?

kkeegan · Oct 21, 2013

Other pipes included in the collection:

This just over 5 inches long with a tiny bowl.

I love these marbled clay pipes and they look more red in real life. How will smoking them affect the colour?

An acorn shaped pipe.

Not great pictures. But this has a removable stem like a 'normal' pipe.

It's not a tight fit, should it have a cork collar?

Is the discolouration from being smoked and then cleaned?

This has a similar design to the huge red clay pipe, but is only around 6 inches long.
If you have any info or advice, I'd love to hear it.

Thanks

dryseason91 · Oct 21, 2013

They're actually some of the better-looking clay pipes I've seen. They can indeed be smoked, in fact it's arguable that they taint the flavour of the smoke less than briar and allow the tobacco's character to come through in a purer way. In my limited experience they contribute a certain earthiness to the flavour and are more liable to smoke hot without due care. At any rate, it's a nice score!

cosmicfolklore · Oct 21, 2013

Yes, they'll smoke, and smoke without adding flavors to the tobacco. But make sure to hold them by the stem, not the bowl, because they will heat up really hot.

cortezattic · Oct 21, 2013

They all appear to be unsmoked, and therefore their value will probably surprise you.

I've seen plain, unadorned tavern clays go for about $40. They're the long stemmed ones.

Smaller pipes would be worth less, but yours are very nice, and it would be worth your

time to do some research. PipeShoppe.com and RamsHornStudio would be two places to start.

You might also Google for Pamplin and Akron Pipes.
The Seattle Pipe Club has some sort of ceremonial lighting of clay pipes. You might want to

check with a representative to learn what that's all about.
If the mouth end of the clay is not glazed, it will stick to your lips like it was crazy glued.

I think some petroleum jelly or lip balm will protect your lips.
Clays do color when smoked. They can be cleaned, usually by re-firing them -- not unlike in a self cleaning oven

-- but I think you can also use conventional methods (alcohol), or even wash them with water.
Thanks for posting all those pix. It's not often we get to see such nice, decorated clays. :clap:

cosmicfolklore · Oct 21, 2013

and therefore their value will probably surprise you.

Well, that would depend on how old the actually are. I've seen a few of these designs on Amazon for under $20. I've also seen some being made by modern ceramicists.

cortezattic · Oct 22, 2013

Well, the above pipes were represented as freebies, of a sort. So I wanted to let the OP know that they are not worthless.

I should think that the $13 - $17 or so that Amazon is asking would be somewhat of a surprise to the OP under the circumstances.
I guess we'll have to wait for the OP to let us know whether or not he actually was surprised! :rofl:

kkeegan · Oct 22, 2013

Here is one I forgot to post:

It is under 6 inches long and has nice pattern and feel to it.

flakyjakey · Oct 22, 2013

I don't have much to add to what Cortez has said except to reinforce the point that the bowls especially heat up very rapidly to the point at which they will burn your fingers! Which is why many of the them have 'nubbins' at the bottom of the bowl by which to grasp them. By the same token I would strongly recommend waxing the end of the mouthpieces before smoking!
The ones I used in my recent 'Morta' experiments were already coated in red or green wax/plastic. They are supposed to be entirely 'neutral' and neither add to nor subtract from the true flavour of the tobacco. But they are VERY fragile which is why they are not very practicable in the long term and probably explains why you will often dig one up in English or Irish gardens but rarely one with an intact stem! Centuries ago they were virtually 'throwaways', ready filled with powdered tobacco, their bowls sealed with a thin wax coating.
My only other comment about the pipes you show is that some are brownish rather than white. The original 'pipe clay' was almost pure white (and was used to whiten the leather on Redcoat's uniforms!). I wonder therefore whether the former will smoke as 'purely' as the ones which look like they have been made from classical 'pipe clay'?

kkeegan · Oct 22, 2013

Thank you Cortez & cosmicfolklore for your advice.

I guess the pipes were a freebie, as I only really wanted the pipe rack and I think I got that for a good price.

£20GBP and it has room for 12 pipes and large box at the bottom for tobacco & pipe cleaners etc.
I've just checked and $40 is about £24, so I'm already in the black!

I think I hoped that was the top-end value. I was a little afraid I may have something rare and fragile - not a great combination!
I may try one of the tavern sized pipes this weekend. Initially I thought about dipping the end of the pipe in water, but lip balm sounds better - Thanks.
What does OP mean? Order of the Pipe?
Keep the information coming; especially about the pipe with the removable stem.

K Keegan OP

kkeegan · Oct 22, 2013

Thanks flakyjakey, I did notice the colour and that is why I asked if they were just decorative. They do feel like clay, but a little 'home-made', especially the red-clay pipe. Can you smoke red clay?

Also thanks for telling me about the 'nubbins' at the bottom of the bowl. I first thought they were for resting them on the table, but they're not up for the job!

flakyjakey · Oct 22, 2013

The white ones are likely to give you the best smoke. But why not try a white clay against a brown clay and see how they compare when smoking the same tobacco?

bentmike · Oct 22, 2013

Thanks for sharing. They are some great looking clays.

cortezattic · Oct 24, 2013

OP = original post(er)

roadqueen · Oct 31, 2013

I LOVE the one with the horseshoe on the front! Great score, I hope they smoke well for you!

flakyjakey · Oct 31, 2013

I'd still like to know how the 'brown-looking' ones smoke compared with the white ones which look like they're made of 'real'pipe clay

pitchfork · Oct 31, 2013

Those are some of the best looking clays (modern or antique) I've seen. Great designs, all of them. The reddish ones are possible newer as there is a company (or two) that make those currently. I think they call them "Elizabethan pipes" or some such. Great score in any case.

juddeern · Nov 29, 2013

I'm green with envy! I love my clay pipe, and plan to buy more. I sincerely hope you get the chance to enjoy them! :D if not... I know someone who would take them off your hands... me... lol

mso489 · Nov 29, 2013

Most of these aren't particularly long-stemmed, but it is useful to say that with long-stemmed clay pipes, you

need to get seated and get organized to smoke one without jeopardizing that long stem, dumping the bowl,

or encountering that very hot bowl. It's not a problem, but just not what you are used to with a shorter pipe,

even a churchwarden. One of these clay pipes has a particularly large bowl, and that means more tobacco

burning at once, and more heat, so I'd master the other pipes, and holding them by the stem, before you try

that one; just a suggestion. Many of the Dutch pipes come from the town of Gouda, which also produces the

cheese named after it. I think they've been making clay pipes there for centuries.

kkeegan · Oct 24, 2014

Thank you to the Anonymous poster who showed these to Heather Coleman.

I have googled Len Rust and discovered some of his work is in the Amsterdam Pipe Museum:

http://www.pipemuseum.nl/index.php?hg1=&geoniv=&datering_start=1975&datering_eind=2000&maker=Len+Rust&keyword=&keyword_bool=AND&afb=&wmod=dia&hm=4&sm=3&dbm=1&sortby=datering_kruis&q=1
It does indeed look like these pipes are his workmanship.

I have written to Heather to enquire if she has any more information.

What Can You Tell Me About These Clay Pipes?

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