Since I started smoking with some degree of dedication in November I've been pondering tobacco pipes, why they made of what they're made of, and what materials would make a good pipe.
When I went about trying to find one to buy, I imagined how long a briar pipe can last. I figure, properly maintained and correctly smoked, a briar pipe could last hundreds of years.
The spirit moved to try and find out precisely how old the oldest known briar pipe is. I have yet to find anything exact so far, but I did find an article about the history of tobacco pipe smoking that quotes:
"Then in 1821, a French pipe maker, on a pilgrimage to visit the birthplace of Napoleon in Corsica, realized the fine qualities of the burl of the indigenous heather tree. Briar wood, as it came to be called, is now the primary substance from which pipes are made."
The article also informs that meerschaum pre-dates briar pipes by over a hundred years, which I was somewhat surprised to find out.
If anyone knows or has information about The Oldest Briar tobacco pipe, I'd be interested to hear!
Happy Puffing :puffpipe:
When I went about trying to find one to buy, I imagined how long a briar pipe can last. I figure, properly maintained and correctly smoked, a briar pipe could last hundreds of years.
The spirit moved to try and find out precisely how old the oldest known briar pipe is. I have yet to find anything exact so far, but I did find an article about the history of tobacco pipe smoking that quotes:
"Then in 1821, a French pipe maker, on a pilgrimage to visit the birthplace of Napoleon in Corsica, realized the fine qualities of the burl of the indigenous heather tree. Briar wood, as it came to be called, is now the primary substance from which pipes are made."
The article also informs that meerschaum pre-dates briar pipes by over a hundred years, which I was somewhat surprised to find out.
If anyone knows or has information about The Oldest Briar tobacco pipe, I'd be interested to hear!
Happy Puffing :puffpipe:
