This is an inexpensive, mass-produced Dutch clay pipe, intended as a disposable item. Thus it is quite rare to have this fully intact surviving example. It was made in Gouda, Netherlands, where it would be called a "Goudse pijp".The clay pipe-making industry in the Netherlands dates back to the early 17th century, when English mercenaries in the Dutch military settled in Dutch towns and taught pipe-making to the locals. Gouda became the centre of pipe production because of its already existing pottery industry. Kilns were used jointly for other types of pottery and pipes. Pipe smoking in the Netherlands increased in popularity as a result of tobacco imports through the Dutch East and West India Companies, which led to increased demand for pipes. By the 1730s, snuff became more popular than smoking tobacco, and later cigars and cigarettes killed off most of pipe smoking.
