Pipes as collectibles

[RonM]

This question has probably been asked here before, but I'll ask it again since I'm new. Does anyone know of people -- or have you ever heard of anyone -- who doesn't smoke pipes but just collects them? I ask because pipes can be real works of art, not all but many are. I can see where some might just like them on the shelf or in a cabinet as display pieces in a man cave or whatever. I, in fact, have a few pipes that have never been smoked and probably never will be. Anyway, just a question that comes to mind sometimes as I'm looking at my pipes deciding which one to use.

 

[bullet08]

No.

 

[vosBghos]

Mine all eventually get smoked but sometimes they sit waiting for a special event or aged baccy to be acquired or a tin to hit a certain age, we all have our idiosyncrasies

 

[Lumbridge]

I used to buy pipes just because they looked nice and to collect them. I don't do that anymore. I smoke what I own and only own what I smoke. Like any collection hobby, it can get out of hand pretty quickly and become a hoard if one isn't careful.

 

[fireground_piper]

I have heard of folks who just collect pipes and are non smokers. I don’t know any personally but I have heard of those who do more than a few times.

 

[Briar Tuck]

I'm sure there are people out there that collect pipes just for the sake of collecting, but I smoke all of mine.

 

[beefeater33]

I've seen pictures of some fantastic carved meerschaum collections, all unsmoked and in lighted curio cabinets. I think he may have been a forum member here, many moons ago.........

 

[Ahi Ka]

@Flatfish have you started smoking yet?

 

[kcghost]

I sure don't collect pipes for just display purposes. I know that there are high end collectors who display unsmoked pipes, but they have a substantial supply of smoked pipes.

 

[alan73]

yes . Me. Art yes.

I sure don't collect pipes for just display purposes. I know that there are high end collectors who display unsmoked pipes, but they have a substantial supply of smoked pipes.

 

[georged]

I know that there are high end collectors who display unsmoked pipes, but they have a substantial supply of smoked pipes.

This ^^^^

Non-smoker collections are extremely rare. Smokers who have a "satellite" collection of unsmoked/new condition pieces isn't all that unusual.

 

[rmbittner]

Dayton Matlick, owner and publisher of Pipes & Tobaccos magazine, wasn’t a pipesmoker (or any kind of smoker), yet he spent years in the industry. I believe he collected high-grade pipes.

 

[mso489]

Actually, over time a few members have said they were collectors but not smokers. None have hung around for a long time, maybe because a lot of the conversation here is also about tobacco blends and brands. But non-smoking pipe collectors are definitely a "thing," and probably there are quite a few out there.

Some members who do smoke also have pipes that they keep for their value as art and don't smoke, or for their historical interest or provenance. Several pipes that are smoked and are listed in WAYS threads have belonged to celebrities, which is another kind of collection.

 

[boston]

Yes. One. Met him 20ish years ago @ the Chicago show. Only purchased high end pipes. Someone will get to them someday. I have unsmoked ones as well...maybe I'll get to them someday. Some are all one of a kind; from artisan carvers no longer with us that did a handful of similar ones like Rolando's whale.

 

[Ahi Ka]

@cosmicfolklore didn’t your friend who ran the briary not smoke pipes? (That sentence reads poorly, but hey, that’s kiwi English)

 

[boston]

Yes. One. Met him 20ish years ago @ the Chicago show. Only purchased high end pipes. Someone will get to them someday. I have unsmoked ones as well...maybe I'll get to them someday. Some are all one of a kind; from artisan carvers no longer with us that did a handful of similar ones like Rolando's whale.

Goofed on that post. Some of my unsmoked pipes are one of a kind. The others not common but not one of a kind. Like Rolando's whale...he made probably more than a few of those.

 

[Searock Fan]

I know someone who is a rabid anti-smoker, but he collects antique meerschaums. On the other hand I also know someone who collects early Colt .45s, but he has never shot anyone. It's a crazy world.

 

[PaulTheScandinavian]

to collect for the display purposes? ain't got money for that.

 

[Highlandpiper]

The notion of not smoking them is beyond my simple comprehension.

 

[Flatfish]

@Flatfish have you started smoking yet?

Ha ha ha.

No.

But thanks for asking.

You are probably all surprised I'm still lurking here. I've just run out of questions.