Old Karen Hill Tribe Bamboo Smoking Pipe

Karen Hill Tribe Bamboo Smoking Pipe

Authentic Karen Hill Tribe of Northern Thailand bamboo smoking pipe. These bamboo pipes have been made and used by men and women of the Karen Hill Tribe to smoke locally grown tobacco and other substances for centuries. It is amazing the number of products the people of this region can make from bamboo. This is not a reproduction, it is an authentic Karen pipe that has been used. I have included a brief history of the Karen People below.

Size: Stem: Approx 3.5 inches/9cm Bowl Approx 2 inches/5cm

Materials: Stem - Bamboo/ Bowl - Bamboo

Thanks for your time and consideration... sidthesquid

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE KAREN PEOPLE

For centuries much of the population of northern Thailand has been composed of ethnic groups commonly known as 'hilltribes'. The largest of these is the Karen group numbering around 400,000 in Thailand.

The two main Karen groups in Thailand are the Sgaw and Pwo Karen. The Karen Hilltribes Trust works with the largest, the Sgaw Karen, who live in the Khun Yuam and Mae La Noi districts of the Mae Hong Son Province.

Their history in northern Thailand can be traced back to the twelfth century. It is thought that Karen originally came from Tibet, through China, and eventually to Thailand.

In Thailand they mostly live in the more remote mountainous areas due west of Chiang Mai. They are subsistence farmers who live at peace with nature and the forests. The Karen settled in what is termed the 'middle level' in the mountains, namely between 800 and 1,800 meters.

They were semi-nomadic people using swidden (slash and burn) farming methods, moving around on a seven year cycle. However, around 1968 the Government insisted that they must stop moving around. They were offered Thai ID and land rights if they could prove longevity. Now they are settled but their lifestyle is still influenced by their culture