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How to Color a Meerschaum Pipe

Meerschaum pipes are smoking pipes made out of meerschaum clay. Originally white in color, over several smokings the pipe will develop a patina, or bloom, of color ranging from beige to dark red. As tobacco is burned in the pipe, oils are released into the wax used to seal the clay. As the pipe cools the wax pulls the oils into the pipe, creating the patina. Coloring is very difficult to control, as many meerschaum pipes differ greatly in size, ranging from traditional pipe bowl shapes to intricately carved faces and frescoes.

Things You'll Need

Meerschaum pipe
Tobacco
Matches

Instructions

- 1
  Fill the bowl entirely with tobacco and light with a match. Unlike brier pipes, meerschaums do not need to be broken in. Smoke the entire bowl to ensure an even displacement of oils. Continue to fill the bowl and smoke the pipe as you would any other pipe.
- 2
  Set the pipe aside for two days. This will allow the pipe to cool completely. If enough oils have been deposited in the bowl, some coloring may begin to show on the outside of the pipe. This will give an indication to how quickly the pipe will color in the future.
- 3
  Smoke the pipe again, setting it aside to cool between smokings. Repeat this cycle to develop the pipe's color.

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