The MEERSCHAUM Tale
When he went to Istanbul on an envoy the early 18th century,how could Count Andrassy know that,later he would be remembered as the first man to introduce Meerschaum..In istanbul the Ottaman Sultan gave him two blocks of Meershaum as presents..When he went back to Budapest, he gave them to Karl Kowates,a Hungarian cobbler,and wanted him to carve pipes from these blocks.Karl Kowates a talented Hungarian wood carver,carved two pipes and count Andrassy was so pleased to have them.Karl Kowates,carved many pipes from Meerschaum,later on. Meerschaum was then carved by French
Austrian,English and Dutch artists.But is was the Viennese carvers who made Meerschaum world famous with their excellent carving. They cobtained Meerschaum Block from Eskisehir, Turkey... After the export of Meerschaum Blocks was forbidden by the Turkish Government In early 60's, the Austria pipe makers weren't able to obtains the Meerschaum blocks..Then the Turks started to carve the Meerschaum their carving was simple in the beginning, but in the last 15-20 years,their carving has improved a lot and these days a few of them can carve from a photograph.
The pure white Meerschaum is only mined in Eskisehir,Turkey between 150-300 feet below the surface. Meerschaum known as hydrous silicate of Magnesia ,is porous,and mined in the villages of Karatepe, Tokat,Margi,Sepetci in the area of Eskisehir ...The thing which made Meerschaum so popular among pipe smokers is that it's a nature absorbent,it ,it absorbs nicotine,it's a nature filter ,so a Meerschaum pipe gains a beautiful color,after being smoked for sometime. The Meerschaum offers a nice ,cool smoke.
There has been a great campaign againts smoking all over the world,in the past few years ,but the meerschaum has always stayed popular,and it still is the best present for a pipe smoker . Because ,Meerschaum is a myth which combines beauty and mystery ,and it was born in the hands of a Hungarian carver 300 years ago.