Not currently on display at the V&A

Tobacco Pipe

ca. 1850 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

People had been smoking herbs in Europe for hundreds of years. But modern ideas of smoking did not reach our shores until the late 16th century. It is thought that the first shipment of tobacco and clay pipes came to England from the colonies in 1586. It was quickly popularised by people of the upper classes.

The bowls on the end of the stems of smoking pipes grew in size as tobacco became cheaper. The pipes were cheap to produce, which was lucky as they were fragile and often did not last long. By the mid 17th Century there was mass manufacturing of pipes in Europe.


Object details

Category
Object type
Brief description
Dutch clay tobacco pipe, made in the Netherlands, ca 1850
Object history
Given by Mrs F. Bury Palliser in 1869. Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street.
Summary
People had been smoking herbs in Europe for hundreds of years. But modern ideas of smoking did not reach our shores until the late 16th century. It is thought that the first shipment of tobacco and clay pipes came to England from the colonies in 1586. It was quickly popularised by people of the upper classes.

The bowls on the end of the stems of smoking pipes grew in size as tobacco became cheaper. The pipes were cheap to produce, which was lucky as they were fragile and often did not last long. By the mid 17th Century there was mass manufacturing of pipes in Europe.
Collection
Accession number
4118I-1901

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Record createdJuly 4, 2013
Record URL
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