It turns out that the history of pipe smoking goes back to ancient times and beyond. Pipes made of copper were among the afterlife accessories found in Egyptian tombs from as early as 2000 B.C.

In the early 1900s, William and Mary Benson, a Pomo Indian couple, won renown for their exquisite Native American baskets. In 1912, they gave one of William's most masterly pieces to a trusted friend.