Meerschaum

[pdmus]

I have 2 meerschaums and I got curious about what it is. I combined a few paragraphs as a short explanation (if you already know this, go on to the next post and I'll be quiet!).
Meerschaum is a German word describing a soft mineral, which literally means “sea foam” alluding to the belief that it was the compressed whitecaps of waves, just as it is said in myhtology for the goddess of beauty – Aphrodite.
Meerschaum has been formed through hydration of magnesium and silicon-based rock debris in ‘alteration’layers at various depths in the Earth’s crust by hydrothermal effects.
Eskisehir, Turkey and its surroundings have always had extremely favourable natural conditions for the settlement of people since the earliest times in history. During archaeological researches conducted in order to shed light on this distant past, it has been established, that people knew meerschaum 5000 years ago and used it for various purposes in the course of time.
Here are some pics of Eskisehir, where the Meerschaum is "harvested."

 

[damien83]

That is very cool, good little story and great pics, I miss going oversea's and seeing little towns like this, though I've never been to turkey I have been to many that look like that.

 

[unclearthur]

Very cool indeed!

 

[locopony]

Awesome.

 

[ace57]

Nice pics thanks

 

[mp31guitar]

I've heard meerschaum is brittle. Is it so brittle you can crush it in your hand?? I've never owned one.

 

[pdmus]

I have never heard of crushing a meer in your hand. It is a wonderful material for smoking, smokes cool and you can smoke several smokes in a row, it doesn't damage the meerschaum. It slowly changes color, to an orange-brown as the oils from the tobacco soak thru the meerschaum to the outside of the bowl. I have just 2, but they are great smokes.

 

[pstlpkr]

Pdmus, Mp31guitar, have you read Fred's articles?

This is a good place to start.

Fred knows his 'Sea Foam'.
Slave to the White Goddess

 

[pdmus]

Hey Lawrence, thanks for the Slave to the White Goddess link, yes Fred knows his Meerschaum! Those are some beautifully colored pipes! Just another century of smoking and I'm sure mine will be a lovely reddish brown...

 

[punkpiper]

Awesome pics. Wish I had some of those epic desert cliffs round here.

As for meerschaum, theres a rather nice pipe in an antique shop nearby thats tagged around 90 pounds. It looks to have a small bowl, its carved as a womans head.... but the stain on it is beautiful.

 

[fred]

Great photos of Eskisehir! Here's some links to photos of a photo-journalist's trip to Eskisehir, which you may enjoy....
http://www.vagabondjourney.com/209-0225-meerschaum-museum-eskisehir-turkey.shtml

http://www.vagabondjourney.com/209-0226-meerschaum-smoking-pipes-photos.shtml

http://www.vagabondjourney.com/209-0227-meerschaum-pipes-master-carvers.shtml

http://www.vagabondjourney.com/209-0228-meerschaum-pipe-journalism-project.shtml

http://www.vagabondjourney.com/209-0229-meerschaum-pipes-eskisehir-turkey-photos.shtml

http://www.vagabondjourney.com/209-0224-meerschaum-pipes-eskisehir-turkey.shtml

http://www.vagabondjourney.com/209-0230-lahmacun-eskisehir-turkey.shtml

http://www.vagabondjourney.com/209-0231-meerschaum-pipe-wax.shtml
Here's the museum guide book that's on it's way to me....

http://www.amazon.com/Meerschaum-Museum-Governor-Eskisehir-Bahaeddin/dp/B004GS73H0

 

[unclearthur]

Fascinating photo series Fred.

 

[pdmus]

Wow Fred - Thanks for the great photos! And Turkish Pizza, as well. Seeing where the "raw" meerschaum comes from, the people that carve and create the pipes and the pics of some pipe shops really makes me appreciate my meers. The book you are getting looks great, the smooth meer on the left looks just like the meer I smoke the most. Thanks for posting the photo links!

 

[fred]

Thanks guys! Here's the link to a film documentary that Sinan put together, not so long ago.... It's the best photo documentary that I've run across.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqBD4lCHUJo
Deniz Ural, who has been in the Meerschaum trades for over 40 years, is currently writing the book, detailing his experiences... I'm waiting for this to happen.

 

[seanz]

wow those photos were Great!

 

[pstlpkr]

:worship: Fred
Thanks for the links Fred.

Those were great!

The video was very cool.

It amazes me how easy the carvers make it look.

 

[fred]

Thanks Lawrence. It's my pleasure to share information on these Pipes and their culture. Yes, the Carvers make it look easy.... It's even more amazing when you consider that there is no school for this art, and the sharing of information within the Carver community is nonexistent. This Meerschaum culture has existed for centuries in Turkey, but has only relatively recently become the focus of Pipe making, due to the Turkish government's imposition of laws that make the export of raw Sepiolite a criminal offense. The Muslim culture doesn't do much to support the arts, as we know it, so the primary benefit extended to artisans is cheap rent for their shops, that are largely supported by the Turkish tourists. The best Meerschaum Pipes are exported to European and North American markets.

 

[fullbent]

Ive been thinking of buying a meer.Do any of you know of a good maker I can check out?I know I have names I look for in briar,but meer...Im clueless

 

[loneredtree]

In Yucel's shop there is a not smoking sign. Turkey has submitted! :nana:

 

[pdmus]

Great vid, Fred! Great to see master artisans at work, I will enjoy my meerschaums more after having more knowledge about them.