Meerschaum

[Idlefellow]

Dutch, that is a beautifully colored meerschaum; did it come pre-colored or have you colored it?

Try as I might I could never get either of mine to color evenly (or, frankly, color much at all, though I must admit I haven't smoked them all that much). I even tried some of the wax that is supposed to assist in the coloring, and I once heard that smoking it inside a paper bag (just the pipe; not you) will help it steep in the smoke and aid the coloring.

One of mine is a simple billiard with a few "designs" where I assume there were pits or imperfections. Here's my other one:



Both were gifts from friends who traveled to Turkey so I can't complain.

 

[Dutch]

Dutch, that is a beautifully colored meerschaum; did it come pre-colored or have you colored it?

Try as I might I could never get either of mine to color evenly (or, frankly, color much at all, though I must admit I haven't smoked them all that much). I even tried some of the wax that is supposed to assist in the coloring, and I once heard that smoking it inside a paper bag (just the pipe; not you) will help it steep in the smoke and aid the coloring.

One of mine is a simple billiard with a few "designs" where I assume there were pits or imperfections. Here's my other one:



Both were gifts from friends who traveled to Turkey so I can't complain.

Idlefellow, yes it came colored with beeswax, and extremely yellow before smoking. As it is smoked, the stem will darken even more yellow, before it starts to turn brown. The bowl itself will be the last to turn brown. I don't worry about the coloring too much. I just wash my hands well in warm water before I smoke, and let the rough end draggggg..... irat: