Tobacco pipe, Holland, ca. 1850
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1850
Tobacco pipe, Holland, ca. 1850 is an object recorded by Victoria and Albert Museum, dated ca. 1850. The museum's brief description reads: Dutch clay tobacco pipe, made in the Netherlands, ca 1850.
Museum description: 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. The museum record gives place associated: Holland. These details come from the holding museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
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.
Technical characteristics
- Place recorded
- Holland
Identification
- Museum object name
- Tobacco pipe
- Museum object number
- 4118I-1901
- Museum system number
- O1266527
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm materials, dimensions, maker and wider type against the museum record and a specialist reference.