Kiseru

[yamabiru]

Reposting this as it was lost in the problem

 

So the Tobacco and Salt museum in Tokyo (JT) confirmed what I thought that kiseru started out around 1600 with large bowls , hizara, and then proceeded to shrink over the next two and a half centuries

 

https://www.jti.co.jp/Culture/museum/collection/tobacco/t11/index.html

 

◆きせる（江戸初期〜幕末）

 

 

My collection with oldest at top

 

17th century bronze!

[Brian]

Extensive collection! Congrats.

[Jean]

As a pipe smoker, very nice collection

[yamabiru]

Thanks much gents! Took a few years of hard work.

 

Tokyo Edo museum also confirms some of my pipes are 17 th C.

 

https://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/blog/exhibition-report/11854/地域展「掘り出された江戸の町－一橋高校遺跡出

 

 

The oldest kiseru is at the bottom , found in strata layer 4 of their excavation

Next up also layer 4 both from approx before the time of great fire of 1657

 

Explanations of strata

https://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/assets/img/2016/06/syo201606_3.jpg

 

https://www.edo-tokyo-museum.or.jp/assets/img/2016/06/syo201606_2.jpg

 

The two kiseru styles at the top are therefore post 1657.

 

[John A Stuart]

I have one modern one just to place in my case for completeness. I have used one before with loose tobacco and it was harsh, very harsh. I see them used to hold cigarrettes occasionally. Use would be almost a ritual, packing, lighting, smoking, tapping out the wattle, repeat. John

[Dr Fox]

Well done you, very interesting. Same idea here in the UK, where clay pipes are collected.

Thanks for that.