Back to Germany
29 agosto 2026
Lukas Hensing’s internship has come to an end, in order to continue his studies in Bremen. By working as a guide in our museum, he gained a deep understanding of the history of the tobacco pipe. He was able to effectively share his expertise on wooden pipe production in a video discussing several magnificent pipes by Pierre Müller. With his expert eye, he identified various technical details that had escaped our notice. It was a wonderful collaboration, thank you very much, Lukas!
PermalinkAn idol to many
25 agosto 2026
An idol to many
Dolly Parton, beloved actress and, above all, country singer passed away today. She has been a prominent figure in our museum collection for decades, represented by a unique portrait pipe dominated by her striking hairstyle. It was carved in 1981 by the wood artist Bollinger in a cubist style that was somewhat old-fashioned for that time. Since 2002, the pipe has been displayed discreetly alongside other notable figures also carved in briar. Visitors who ask about it are shown the piece.
Email dots and Facebook
14 agosto 2026
Following the passing of Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, her work - featuring her signature dots - has been making headlines everywhere. Yet, this motif is nothing new; a fashion for enamel dots on clay pipes has existed since as early as 1860. Our dedicated volunteer Elisa, who has been managing our social media for three years, used AI to create a fitting background featuring some of these dotted pipes. In doing so, we pay tribute not only to Ms. Kusama but also to the creative pipe makers of the 19th century. And... to Elisa!
PermalinkA fellow digger from days gone by
4 agosto 2026
Summer is a time for unexpected encounters. Today, an old excavation companion of Don Duco’s visited the museum. In the late 1980s, the two of them stood side by side - shovels in hand - at the dump site of the Gambier factory in northern France. It turns out Philippe Canon still lives in Givet, now with a wife and child. Even after 45 years, the mutual recognition and the common interest in Givet clay pipes remain. Philippe was also deeply impressed by the tour of the museum; forty years on, countless complete Gambier pipes have been retrieved - pipes that were previously known only as archaeological fragments.
PermalinkA Pipe Maker’s Summer Internship
2 agosto 2026
This August, our museum is hosting Lukas Hensing, an intern from Bremen. He is a historian with an interest in museums, but his primary passion is pipes; in fact, he has been crafting briar pipes himself since the age of fifteen! He is now virtually a master of the craft, having completed internships with contemporary pipe makers in Germany and Denmark. Here at the museum, he aims to bridge the gap in his knowledge regarding the history of pipes made from materials other than wood. We are very curious to see what this exchange will yield.
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