Dutch clay pipes

In the nineteenth century, interest in the long Gouda clay pipe diminished. Under the influence of French pipe makers, shorter pipes became fashionable, often with a more lavish decoration. This kind of pipe never became popular in Gouda. The pipe makers lacked creativity, while the mould engravers had insufficient skill. Gouda companies therefore preferred to buy old moulds in Belgium and France to be able to produce these type of pipes.

However, for the smoker who was looking for a pipe with a long stem to cool the smoke and enhance the flavour, curly pipes came into production. The stem was tied in a knot, so the pipe was both handy and producing cool smoke as well. The new fashion of painting these pipes shows that the clay pipe is increasingly becoming a souvenir item. The discerning consumer was looking for pipes made of other materials for better smoking comfort.

At the beginning of the twentieth century we see that the traditional long stemmed Gouda pipe has almost disappeared and made way for short stemmed pipes with paint. Under the influence of the cigar, the newer cigarette but also the briar pipe, the clay pipe was gradually disappearing from the market. Only P. Goedewaagen & Son from Gouda was still producing the traditional Gouda clay pipe in the twentieth century. Their old fashioned range of products was supplemented with designs from other production centres.