Fire steel with curls

June 2024

Making fire is inextricably linked to smoking. No smoke without fire! In earlier times, having fire was a point of attention. The easiest thing was to get some coals from the stove in the kitchen. If this was not possible, then you had to get to work yourself. Making fire was a real issue: creating a spark with flint and fire steel that could set a piece of tinder on fire. Then a fuse or wood chip came into view to bring the fire into the pipe. There are many types of fire steels, of which this one has the most characteristic shape. The striking section is the thickest with a straight side to hit the flint. The part that functions as a handle needs a good grip to be able to strike powerfully. The handle in our example is gracefully bent and twisted into two curls. This gives it the shape of the traditional fire steel that has been used for centuries with this appearance and has also been depicted a lot as a symbol. For example, this fire steel is the landmark of the dukes of Burgundy. After forging, the fire steel was hardened to be durable and provide years of service. Frequent handling gave the wrought iron a beautiful patina and prevented it from rusting. This ancient object has been preserved in that impressive condition.

Amsterdam Pipe Museum APM 24.734

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