When the Smoke Clears : Clay Tobacco Pipes and Smokeways in Eighteenth-Century Sweden
(2026) In Lund Studies in Historical Archaeology 27.- Abstract
- This doctoral thesis explores potential source value of clay tobacco pipes made and consumed in Sweden in the eighteenth
century beyond their currently applied uses as chronometric artifacts. In particular, this study is focused on exploring the ways
in which clay tobacco pipes signaled socioeconomic differentiation in their contemporaneity and how such aspects may be
understood based on archaeologically recovered fragments of pipes.
Tobacco smoking was socially ubiquitous in eighteenth-century Sweden. It is therefore argued that the practice of tobacco
smoking, similarly to other ubiquitous consumption practices, must therefore have been differentiated and differentiating
depending on the socioeconomic status... (More) - This doctoral thesis explores potential source value of clay tobacco pipes made and consumed in Sweden in the eighteenth
century beyond their currently applied uses as chronometric artifacts. In particular, this study is focused on exploring the ways
in which clay tobacco pipes signaled socioeconomic differentiation in their contemporaneity and how such aspects may be
understood based on archaeologically recovered fragments of pipes.
Tobacco smoking was socially ubiquitous in eighteenth-century Sweden. It is therefore argued that the practice of tobacco
smoking, similarly to other ubiquitous consumption practices, must therefore have been differentiated and differentiating
depending on the socioeconomic status of its carriers. To conceptualize differentiated and differentiating smoking, the study
introduces the heuristic concept of smokeways. Differentiating smokeways are believed to have left identifiable traces in the
archaeological record. The study employs a source-pluralistic approach that considers manufacturing standards of the clay
tobacco pipe industry, traces that users left on archaeologically recovered pipes, as well as documentary and pictorial sources
relaying attitudes towards the smokeways that created these traces.
Archival documents from policymakers, manufacturing descriptions, price information from different makers, census and
household examination records show that by and large, the industry adapted its production to demands from both
policymakers and consumers to fit notions of appropriate and recognizable smokeways. Whereas price information shows
that the symbolic value of certain types of pipes may have depreciated over time, a standardization of the output of pipe
factories and workshops in terms of prices, types, production quality, and pipe stem-lengths indicates that many clay tobacco
pipes would have been immediately recognizable as markers of socioeconomic status in the studied period. While this
homogenization has impeded precise identifications of pipes not marked with maker-specific marks, it strongly suggests that
many types of pipes were successful and long-lasting indicators of socioeconomic status.
Many of the attributes resulting from these explicitly socially differentiating industry standards remain observable on
archaeologically recovered pipe fragments. Similarly, beyond immediate consumer choice, traces left on archaeologically
recovered pipes as a result of their users’ socially differentiating smokeways are also explored. These traces include bite marks
on stems, signs of reuse and mending, as well as traces of relatively brief periods use.
Written and pictorial sources that relay contemporaneous attitudes towards the smokeways that resulted in these traces
confirm that not only the type of pipe that a smoker used signaled status – the ways in which pipes were used are a factor to
consider. The studied evidence indicates that views on appropriate, archaeologically visible, smokeways varied and shifted
synchronously, diachronically, and regionally. For example, attitudes toward smokeways that resulted in bite marks on stems
and pipe notches in teeth, while strongly associated with smokers on the lower end of the socioeconomic scale, appear to
have shifted throughout the studied period, appear to have become increasingly acceptable as the century progressed. Views
on blackened or seasoned clay pipes also appear to have varied throughout the studied period, with increased acceptance
possibly traceable to the diffusion of significantly more expensive seasoned meerschaum bowls.
This research demonstrates how, by recording attributes related to relative price along with traces of use and modifications,
it is possible to utilize archaeologically recovered fragments of clay tobacco pipes as evidence of socially differentiating
smokeways. In recording, presenting, and discussing such attributes, when coupled to historical evidence, we may reach a
more detailed understanding of past expressions and experiences of differentiation, inequality, and social ambition. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/e6486f62-dcd9-4c7e-afa3-357e7cc459a6
- author
- Bergman Carter, Robert LU
- supervisor
-
- Martin Hansson LU
- Göran Tagesson LU
- opponent
-
- Professor Mehler, Natascha, University of Tübingen
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-09-09
- type
- Thesis
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Clay tobacco pipes analysis, Clay tobacco pipes, Historical archaeology, Smokeways, Archaeology of consumption, Tobacco smoking, Clay tobacco pipe manufacturing, Archaeology of smoking, Eighteenth-century archaeology, Swedish archaeology, Industrial archaeology
- in
- Lund Studies in Historical Archaeology
- volume
- 27
- pages
- 410 pages
- publisher
- Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Lund University
- defense location
- C126, LUX, Helgonavägen 3, Lund
- defense date
- 2026-10-09 13:15:00
- ISSN
- 1653-1183
- ISBN
- 978-91-90055-94-6
- 978-91-90055-95-3
- project
- When the Smoke Clears
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- e6486f62-dcd9-4c7e-afa3-357e7cc459a6
- date added to LUP
- 2026-09-07 16:54:41
- date last changed
- 2026-09-10 11:11:19
@phdthesis{e6486f62-dcd9-4c7e-afa3-357e7cc459a6,
abstract = {{This doctoral thesis explores potential source value of clay tobacco pipes made and consumed in Sweden in the eighteenth <br/>century beyond their currently applied uses as chronometric artifacts. In particular, this study is focused on exploring the ways <br/>in which clay tobacco pipes signaled socioeconomic differentiation in their contemporaneity and how such aspects may be <br/>understood based on archaeologically recovered fragments of pipes. <br/>Tobacco smoking was socially ubiquitous in eighteenth-century Sweden. It is therefore argued that the practice of tobacco <br/>smoking, similarly to other ubiquitous consumption practices, must therefore have been differentiated and differentiating <br/>depending on the socioeconomic status of its carriers. To conceptualize differentiated and differentiating smoking, the study <br/>introduces the heuristic concept of smokeways. Differentiating smokeways are believed to have left identifiable traces in the <br/>archaeological record. The study employs a source-pluralistic approach that considers manufacturing standards of the clay <br/>tobacco pipe industry, traces that users left on archaeologically recovered pipes, as well as documentary and pictorial sources<br/>relaying attitudes towards the smokeways that created these traces. <br/>Archival documents from policymakers, manufacturing descriptions, price information from different makers, census and <br/>household examination records show that by and large, the industry adapted its production to demands from both <br/>policymakers and consumers to fit notions of appropriate and recognizable smokeways. Whereas price information shows <br/>that the symbolic value of certain types of pipes may have depreciated over time, a standardization of the output of pipe <br/>factories and workshops in terms of prices, types, production quality, and pipe stem-lengths indicates that many clay tobacco <br/>pipes would have been immediately recognizable as markers of socioeconomic status in the studied period. While this <br/>homogenization has impeded precise identifications of pipes not marked with maker-specific marks, it strongly suggests that <br/>many types of pipes were successful and long-lasting indicators of socioeconomic status. <br/>Many of the attributes resulting from these explicitly socially differentiating industry standards remain observable on <br/>archaeologically recovered pipe fragments. Similarly, beyond immediate consumer choice, traces left on archaeologically <br/>recovered pipes as a result of their users’ socially differentiating smokeways are also explored. These traces include bite marks <br/>on stems, signs of reuse and mending, as well as traces of relatively brief periods use. <br/>Written and pictorial sources that relay contemporaneous attitudes towards the smokeways that resulted in these traces <br/>confirm that not only the type of pipe that a smoker used signaled status – the ways in which pipes were used are a factor to <br/>consider. The studied evidence indicates that views on appropriate, archaeologically visible, smokeways varied and shifted <br/>synchronously, diachronically, and regionally. For example, attitudes toward smokeways that resulted in bite marks on stems <br/>and pipe notches in teeth, while strongly associated with smokers on the lower end of the socioeconomic scale, appear to <br/>have shifted throughout the studied period, appear to have become increasingly acceptable as the century progressed. Views <br/>on blackened or seasoned clay pipes also appear to have varied throughout the studied period, with increased acceptance <br/>possibly traceable to the diffusion of significantly more expensive seasoned meerschaum bowls. <br/>This research demonstrates how, by recording attributes related to relative price along with traces of use and modifications, <br/>it is possible to utilize archaeologically recovered fragments of clay tobacco pipes as evidence of socially differentiating <br/>smokeways. In recording, presenting, and discussing such attributes, when coupled to historical evidence, we may reach a <br/>more detailed understanding of past expressions and experiences of differentiation, inequality, and social ambition.}},
author = {{Bergman Carter, Robert}},
isbn = {{978-91-90055-94-6}},
issn = {{1653-1183}},
keywords = {{Clay tobacco pipes analysis; Clay tobacco pipes; Historical archaeology; Smokeways; Archaeology of consumption; Tobacco smoking; Clay tobacco pipe manufacturing; Archaeology of smoking; Eighteenth-century archaeology; Swedish archaeology; Industrial archaeology}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{09}},
publisher = {{Department of Archaeology and Ancient History, Lund University}},
school = {{Lund University}},
series = {{Lund Studies in Historical Archaeology}},
title = {{When the Smoke Clears : Clay Tobacco Pipes and Smokeways in Eighteenth-Century Sweden}},
url = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/260209346/Avhandling_Robert_Bergman_Carter.pdf}},
volume = {{27}},
year = {{2026}},
}