In conjunction with archaeological excavations, clay pipes can prove to be very helpful in dating post-Reformation period objects.
Clay pipes are brittle objects with a short service life. The form of the pipes varied greatly over time, with rapid changes in fashion trends reflected in the size, length and décor of stems and bowls.
The Tobacco & Match Museum’s own pipe maker, Arne Åkerhagen, has studied clay pipe history and manufacturing techniques for many years. You can follow his work – turning a lump of clay into a finished pipe – at the museum’s workshop on Skansen’s Craft Days.
