Meerschaum tobacco pipes have been famous, and prized for several centuries. The professional carvers of Eskisehir, near where the meerschaum is mined, are true sculptors-in-miniature.

Meerschaum pipes smoke cool and dry because meerschaum, a soft, porous white mineral, absorbs much of the burning tobacco’s heat and tar. Over time, this tar absorption gives the pipe a nut brown color that is very prized by devoted smokers. Some meerschaum smokers even handle their pipes only with special gloves so as not to let oil from their fingers mess up the color of their pipe.

Unlike briar, a dense wood that is difficult to carve, or corn cob which is too soft meerschaum is easy to carve with a knife. Because tobacco pipes are favored, frequently-used, and very personal items, pipe smokers love a well-carved meerschaum pipe.