Pipe Holder

Tools for smoking include a smoking pipe, a pipe rest, a smoking pipe rack, a picker, a tobacco case, a tobacco pouch, an ashtray and a tray. Originating from the tropical areas of South America, tobacco was likely introduced via Japan in the 17th century, and was also referred to as southern plant (南草) or southern spiritual plant (南靈草). As a representative item of personal preference, tobacco would be given as gifts or to entertain guests, and various items of smoking paraphernalia were developed. Tobacco leaves were also used to make medicine in Chinese medicine. Tobacco relieved indigestion and pain, and were applied to the affected area of ailments such as a boil or ringworm. A smoking pipe rack is a tool used to hang multiple smoking pipes necessary for entertaining guests. In general, a smoking pipe rack is made of wood or brass, accommodates four to eight smoking pipes, and consists of a support, a plank to rest a smoking pipe, and a pillar connecting the two. The rim is attached to a hexagonal, octagonal or circular support and prevented the pipe from being pushed outward when it was stored. A smoking pipe rack can store numerous smoking pipes and was designed for the smoking pipes to stand vertically, so they can be easily removed and to prevent tobacco residue from flowing into the mouthpiece of a pipe. The wooden smoking pipe rack shown here is composed of an octagonal support, an octagonal board and an octagonal pillar. The board for hanging a smoking pipe was connected to a bamboo joint-type pillar, engraved with bat patterns, and eight holes are punched in the rim of the board.