Day 9 #100DaysOfOldDays

This is an old clay tobacco pipe. My dad had some of these in his collection of old things. A lot of his were missing the stem though.

Irish pipe smokers puffed through clay pipes up until the 1800’s. Then the briar pipe was popularized by the Kapp brothers—Friedrich & Heinrich—and their associate Charles Peterson.

Clay pipes were a prominent feature at wakes and funerals long ago. Friends and family of the deceased bought whiskey and porter along with clay pipes and tobacco to have at the wake.

Pipe smokers used to dip the shank of the clay pipe into their whiskey or porter to give the pipe extra flavour.

These old pipes have a nostalgic place in Irish history. You’ll find them in our museums, and no doubt every pipe collector has at least one. Some Irish pubs like to display historical objects and the clay pipe would most likely be among their collection.

This particular one hangs in our local pub An Sean Sibin.