Terra Cotta Tobacco Pipes

            In the Upper North of Thailand (Lanna) people knew how to make tobacco pipes from terra cotta long time ago. The most popular design was of lotus petal. The most attractive one however is a swan. Before the pipe can be use of handle needs to be fixed on it. It is belived that the handle was originally made of bamboo. Metal was used for this purpose later. Although tobacco pipes can be 200-300 years old the metal handle pipes are younger than those with wooden handles.

            Is is noticeable that tobacco pipes with lotus petals and swan design are similar to those found Laos (and North-East Thailand). This shows the cultural relation among these ares.