I got this from a family estate. I thought perhaps it was meerschaum, but the whitish coating is actually water soluble. I cleaned it from the bottom with water and a Q-tip. Is this ok? I don’t want to damage it. It just looks very dirty. I know nothing about pipes, and found this site while researching meerschaum. There is no mold seam, and the whitish stuff comes off easily in water.
Is this Meerschaum, and Can I Wash it?
- Thread starter Krena
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I wouldn't try to clean it and wouldn't even restore it, if you have the back story for it it would be better, but i'd probably get or make a nice little stand for it and have it as a family keepsake.
It’s meerschaum, although I’m not sure what the white stuff on the outside is… the black part on the bottom is colored meerschaum. Weather it’s stained or colored from smoking is hard to tell from the pictures. What it looks like to me is someone tried to paint or whitewash a meerschaum pipe. But if the bottom of the pipe is colored that darkly I’d imagine the rest of it is as well.
You really shouldn’t use water to clean meerschaum, it will breakdown if you get it wet.
You really shouldn’t use water to clean meerschaum, it will breakdown if you get it wet.
Water, used sparingly, is perfectly safe on meerschaum. Just don't soak it or, you may soften it. It appears to be a well smoked bowl, judging from the bottom coloring, whitewashed somehow, perhaps by an an ill informed cretin.
For perspective, I've been washing skin oils and daily grime from meerschaums for decades, six to be exact. I don't know what the white is so, try water and see if it works.
For perspective, I've been washing skin oils and daily grime from meerschaums for decades, six to be exact. I don't know what the white is so, try water and see if it works.
I can't say for certain it's meerschaum from the pics but it looks like it.
There's a good chance the white is dried out wax even if it's brar and not Meer.
I'd start with a qtip or paper towel dipped in a mild dish soap and room temperature water and test the area where the dark coloration meets the white.
Briar will withstand some water as well so no worries there.
What you want to avoid is introducing a third "finish" that is neither the white or the dark. If testing reveals you can safely remove the white and expose more of the dark coloration then I would continue.
There's a good chance the white is dried out wax even if it's brar and not Meer.
I'd start with a qtip or paper towel dipped in a mild dish soap and room temperature water and test the area where the dark coloration meets the white.
Briar will withstand some water as well so no worries there.
What you want to avoid is introducing a third "finish" that is neither the white or the dark. If testing reveals you can safely remove the white and expose more of the dark coloration then I would continue.
I flush my meers inside and out with hot water. Zero problems. As warren notes, no soaking is involved.
Having some background in conservation, I decided to clean the pipe. The white stuff was very soluble in water. And I didn’t believe water would hurt old meerschaum…I’ve done a little stone work, and when sandstone is first excavated it’s soft and easy to carve. Once it dries out, I think a chemical reaction takes place in the stone and it becomes waterproof. I actually wound up washing the thing under the faucet and scrubbing lightly with a soft toothbrush.
As I cleaned it, a crack appeared with the remnants of white glue. I think someone glued the broken head back on the base and used white tempera paint or plaster to cover up the damage. Maybe they were trying to make it look like a dirty, unbroken pipe. I don’t really care about the break and I’ll finish cleaning it to display. Hopefully this info will be helpful to someone
As I cleaned it, a crack appeared with the remnants of white glue. I think someone glued the broken head back on the base and used white tempera paint or plaster to cover up the damage. Maybe they were trying to make it look like a dirty, unbroken pipe. I don’t really care about the break and I’ll finish cleaning it to display. Hopefully this info will be helpful to someone
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Well, question answered with "No, don't use water" to use water. Maybe we should ask the writer if they are going to do it anyway.
Maybe the answer “don’t use water” was wrong, as it seems to have no effect on meerschaum at least in the short term. And this was a pretty heavy-duty application of running water, after trial of wet q-tip showed no damage to material under the white coating. I figure before-after pics and description will be more helpful to future restorers than speculation about what might or might not be bad for meerschaum.
Water good, dirt, body oil bad. Water won't harm meerschaum when used intelligently.
It's also nice to get feedback from an OP. Thanks!
It's also nice to get feedback from an OP. Thanks!
The surface of meerschaum pipes is treated traditionally and intentionally with beeswax, it’s water repellent. So don’t mind the water treatment, as long as you don’t soak the piece. There is no chemical reaction after drying out meerschaum, it’s not a stone nor clay, it’s a mineral with needle crystal structure.
I've concluded the real reason the pipes are waxed by the maker is to keep them pristine while grubby hands inspect them at the B&M. Otherwise, totally useless.