another variation of meerschaum pipe is the calabash pipe made iconic by william gillette's stage portrayal of sherlock holmes. the calabash is a gourd similar to a squash, grown specifically for use in pipes. the shape is determined as the gourd grows by placing small blocks under the stem, forcing it into a gentle curve. the mature gourd is cut and dried, then fitted with a cork gasket to receive a meerschaum bowl. the finished pipe offers one of the coolest, driest smokes available.