When Christopher Columbus discovered America, he also got to know the tobacco plant. Rodrigo de Jerez, one of Columbus’ crew members, was to be the first to practice smoking rolled dried herbs in the street. In his native town of Ayamonte people soon accused him of sorcery and he was promptly arrested. After seven years he left jail after having been proved innocent. The smoking habit spread all over Europe. Mainly cigars and pipes were very popular. The industrial revolution led to mass production of cigarettes. Advertising did the rest. It was normal to smoke, everybody smoked; teachers were smoking in front of the class, journalists smoked during interviews, and film stars made smoking look very glamorous. Health problems in smokers and strict legislation changed public opinion from the end of the 20th century.
The Volkskundemuseum has an extensive pipe and tobacco collection, largely donated by former statesman Achiel van Acker (Bruges 1898-1975). Clay pipes were used from the 17th century. They were really simple consumer goods with a short lifespan. They were cheap and made for poor people.
Pipes with china heads were the absolute opposite of clay pipes and were intended for the wealthy smoker. It was not until the 19th century that the value of china and the prestige of these pipes dropped because of mass production. However, china pipe heads remained popular as a souvenir.
Meerschaum pipes appeared at the end of the 18th century. Meerschaumis a soft mineral that is found mainly in Turkey. This kind of stone is lightweight and completely absorbs the tobacco juices. The pipe is easier to use and the taste becomes dry and cool. The original colour of meerschaum is white, but because of the tobacco juices the pipe gradually turns brown. The beautiful decorations of the pipe head are a result of the softness of the
material which is easy to carve.
From the second half of the 19th century pipe makers used briar wood. Briar wood, a hard woody root from the Mediterranean area, is virtually nonflammable and does not affect the taste of tobacco. Briar wood is soft and easily carved, which results in finely shaped pipes.
The collection also includes beautiful snuff boxes, tobacco boxes, cigar and pipe holders and cigarette holders. The cigar and pipe holders protect the fragile cigars and pipes. Snuff was a formidable competitor to smoked tobacco products, especially from the 17th century onwards. This ground tobacco was mixed with herbs and inhaled through the nostrils.