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The identification of Meerschaum Pipes has been a challenge for a long
time and for many reasons. In part, the relative obscurity of this
cottage industry, which has an almost medieval guild character, combined
with a lack of organization and documentation is the cause. The practice
of signing a Pipe is recent and largely done by Turkish Carvers.
The Pipe case can be used to establish some degree of verification of a
Pipe's origin. The use of logos has been common practice with European and
United Kingdom producers, which aids in this identification process. Still,
Ben Rapaport's Carver's List, (version 2.8; June 13, 2010 - Presentation
to the International Academy of the Pipe) which has been a massive undertaking
cannot always offer clarification on whether the name/logo of the Meerschaum
is that of a Carver or Reseller. The questionable voracity of individual
Sellers business practices further compounds this attempt in Pipe identification.
Much information has been lost. There are remarkable Meerschaums that are
stunning artistic achievements in private collections that have not been
identified as to their origin, beyond the reasonable and informed educated guess.
Given these circumstances, it's not surprising that the current and ongoing
inability to identify Meerschaums in more than a few cases exists and will
continue to pose problems to future attempts.
time and for many reasons. In part, the relative obscurity of this
cottage industry, which has an almost medieval guild character, combined
with a lack of organization and documentation is the cause. The practice
of signing a Pipe is recent and largely done by Turkish Carvers.
The Pipe case can be used to establish some degree of verification of a
Pipe's origin. The use of logos has been common practice with European and
United Kingdom producers, which aids in this identification process. Still,
Ben Rapaport's Carver's List, (version 2.8; June 13, 2010 - Presentation
to the International Academy of the Pipe) which has been a massive undertaking
cannot always offer clarification on whether the name/logo of the Meerschaum
is that of a Carver or Reseller. The questionable voracity of individual
Sellers business practices further compounds this attempt in Pipe identification.
Much information has been lost. There are remarkable Meerschaums that are
stunning artistic achievements in private collections that have not been
identified as to their origin, beyond the reasonable and informed educated guess.
Given these circumstances, it's not surprising that the current and ongoing
inability to identify Meerschaums in more than a few cases exists and will
continue to pose problems to future attempts.
