Long clay pipe stem Mudlarked drop earrings

Historical Information

Type: Pipe Stem
Fabric: Clay
Date: 16th–19th Century
Find Location: The Thames Estuary, Essex, UK
Extra Information:
These clay pipe earrings are beautiful pieces of our past, left to time and tide to be washed and rolled by the river. They are tactile and make perfect earrings.

The clay pipe fragments are dated 16th–19th century, when clay pipes were widely used. The introduction of tobacco to England in the Tudor period was accompanied by the development of clay pipes for smoking. The production of clay tobacco pipes began between 1580 and 1585 in London and gradually spread throughout the country, firstly in major cities and towns.

During the following 250 years, almost every city, town, and village had a clay pipe manufacturer. Around 1700, the use of snuff became increasingly popular among the upper classes; however, the manufacture of clay pipes continued to expand and reached its peak in the early 19th century.