Smoking pipes have taken many different forms throughout the ages. They have been made out of a variety of materials such as bone, wood and clay, and have been used for pleasure, religious and cultural occasions, and for partaking in pain relief.

The modern smoking pipe for tobacco is most commonly made out of clay or wood or a mixture of both although a range of different types of material are seen. Tobacco was introduced to the Western side of the world in the sixteenth century and so implements to smoke it rapidly became available around the same time.

Perhaps the most famous pipe smoker of all is Sherlock Holmes, the fictional detective created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in 1887. Seen as complex, mysterious, intelligent and debonair, a large part of the popularity of using this type of implement comes from the purposeful, subconscious, or cultural qualities attached with this character and the representation of puffing on a pipe to help solve problems. The character used a calabash pipe, a make that is still manufactured.

There are a variety of manufacturers and for enthusiasts there are differences between the shapes and lengths each maker provides. There is also a wide range of tobacco that can be purchased and within the pipe using community there are different opinions on which is the most suitable to which form of implement.

There are shops specifically catering to this interest that stock a huge amount of different types of pipe and tobacco. While they are not commonly seen in most shopping areas they are spread around the globe and most customers would agree that making a trip especially to stock up or to try new versions is worthwhile. In particular, shops in places such as urban centres are visited by tourists from all over the world because of the association with historical literature.

Items can also be purchased on the internet both for personal use and for collections of interesting or antique items. There is a wealth of specialist websites and forums online for people who want to find out more and start or add to a collection. As with all internet purchases, do make sure that the website is trustworthy and that financial details are given over a secure server.

Prices can vary widely as there is such a broad range of products available. If buying an item online or from a catalog then postage and packing will add more to the sale price. Unusual or limited edition items will be considerably more than readily available implements for day to day use. Packages may be available that offer discounts to members of enthusiast clubs.

Although with the ban on lighting up indoors introduced in many places around the world, smoking has diminished a little, the popularity of pipes is unlikely to decrease. While styles and accessories come in and out of fashion, this item will be synonymous with a gentle grace and intellectual pursuits for as long as the iconography of this culture remains at all similar.

Author Bio: Visit your local hemp culture shop for all your smoking accessories and equipment. Choose from our range of unique vaporizers and herb grinders.

Category: Society
Keywords: smoking,tobacco,recreation,leisure,society,bongs,pipes,herbs,hobbies,business,family,home, shopping