The bowl of any pipe must be capable of resisting very hot temperatures and flame over long periods of time.  For this reason, the bowl must be carved to perfection.  The chamber wall must be consistent in thickness and density to prevent embers from burning through the wall.  Great pipe making begins and ends with the bowl; without a finely crafted bowl the pipe will never work properly.

The chamber of a briar bowl can be finished in a variety of ways, including pre-carbonized, natural, and stained.  A natural bowl will have no stain or finish applied; it will be sanded smooth or rough, depending on the makers preference.  A stained bowl will have a color stain applied to give the inside of the bowl an attractive tint like the outside of the bowl.  This process is considered a waste of time by many since the bowl will char and carbonize soon after the pipe is smoked.  In addition, it is possible the stain may impart some flavor to your tobacco before the bowl chars and forms its own protective finish: carbonization.   Pre-carbonization is a modern finish which mimics the carbonization process, and leaves a thin coating on the interior wall of the chamber.   Pre-carbonization is useful if the chamber has aesthetic or structural imperfections which the maker would like to hide.  Otherwise, no chamber finish is necessary for a high grade briar.