Meerschaum pipes are one of the main topics of Fred's November column, including perhaps one of the most famous meerschaums of all. Check it out right here.
A ‘Meer’ Molding of History
What is the Most Famous Meerschaum Pipe of All?
- Thread starter admin
- Start date
SmokingPipes.com Updates
Watch for Updates Twice a Week
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
Site Sponsors
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
PipesMagazine Approved Sponsor
I would say that Lee Van Cleef's Meerschaum from A Few Dollars More is the most famous of meerschaums. And what's more, we now have pictures of it right here on this forum.
Agreed that the two most famous meerschaum pipes belonged to Jefferson Davis and Lee Van Cleef.
Davis' claw meerschaum pictured above probably has more history to it being that a doctor prescribed Davis to smoke the pipe while incarcerated, the pipe was eventually stolen, and then returned.
Edited to add a link to a previous article from Fred Brown that appeared on PM giving the history of the Davis meerschaum.
Davis' claw meerschaum pictured above probably has more history to it being that a doctor prescribed Davis to smoke the pipe while incarcerated, the pipe was eventually stolen, and then returned.
Edited to add a link to a previous article from Fred Brown that appeared on PM giving the history of the Davis meerschaum.
It really depends on one's frame of reference. This 1850 Barling pipe was the subject of several articles and the star of a Bonhams auction. It's being held by former British PM Harold Wilson in this picture.
It was thought to be one of the pipes that Barling showed at the 1851 Great Exhibition. Turns out that it was not shown.
Here's one of the images from the Bonham's auction:
Not exactly chopped liver...
It was thought to be one of the pipes that Barling showed at the 1851 Great Exhibition. Turns out that it was not shown.
Here's one of the images from the Bonham's auction:
Not exactly chopped liver...
Talk about a smoke break ! ... "I'll be back in a week" ...
Someone please start a thread on how to pack that pipe….codger scoop, shaking hands thing, gravity fill, Frank method, or get forklift to drop tobacco bales in!
Meerschaum pipes are one of the main topics of Fred's November column, including perhaps one of the most famous meerschaums of all. Check it out right here.
A ‘Meer’ Molding of History
Thank you for your article; it was fascinating to discover and read. Your pipes are exceptionally beautiful.
On Page 266 of Richard Carleton Hacker's The Ultimate Pipe Book (Second Edition, Second Printing) there is pictured a woman holding a HUGE, intricately carved, meerschaum pipe. The caption reads, "This meerschaum is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's most valuable pipe, and is valued at $15,000."
On size alone, I believe that this pipe might qualify as The Most Famous Meerschaum of All. I wonder what its value is today?
On size alone, I believe that this pipe might qualify as The Most Famous Meerschaum of All. I wonder what its value is today?
Last edited:
There used to be a pipe museum on display at Iwan Ries in the 90s, and an enormous meerschaum bowl bigger than my head was part of it. It was carved something like a Gothic cathedral and was partially colored.
There were a number of intricately carved meerschaum “story” pipes (my term) made by excellent meerschaum carvers in Austria. I remember several decades ago seeing a photo of a very large meerschaum carved to show Christopher Columbus meeting the indigenous peoples after his landing. I recollect he was carrying a large cross. I’m pretty sure Ben Rappaport had a book which showed many of these remarkable pieces. And maybe (really stretching the old memory cells) one was on display in one of the old line Boston tobacconists — David Ehrlich, maybe, or the one in Harvard Square (can’t remember the name). Hopefully someone here knows what I’m talking about. Here’s another random memory. There was a digest sized pipe magazine in the 1980s — put out by the guy who ran PCI, Pipe Collectors International (?). One of his issues had a full color cover photo of one of those meers. Sorry for the ramble, but this topic sparked some half memories.
I think it's more how many tins does it take to fill it?
I love those old meers. I have been trying to find the picture of one that has an insanely amazing forest scene. One that makes the lattice work ones popular now seem like childs play.
Thanks so much for posting that. Happy to learn that my 79 year old brain cells haven’t totally declined. Of course, if they were still fully working, I could have thought to do an internet search myself and probably would have found it. Still, glad you did.
Buy Dunhill Pipe concept Whitespot Eiffel Tower| Cigarworld
Dunhill Pipe concept Whitespot Eiffel Tower Pipe✓The most expensive pipe in the world✓Unique piece✓Here in our shop!
www.cigarworld.de
Fascinating piece of artwork and craftsmanship, but I would observe that the value is driven more by the gems, diamonds and gold than by the value of the pipe as a pipe. Maybe that’s a meaningless distinction, but a piece of briar or meerschaum — carved as is — seems to be a different animal than a pipe inserted in a structure (the Eiffel Tower) that contains the overwhelming portion of the value.
Gads! What an ugly cabinet!Buy Dunhill Pipe concept Whitespot Eiffel Tower| Cigarworld
Dunhill Pipe concept Whitespot Eiffel Tower Pipe✓The most expensive pipe in the world✓Unique piece✓Here in our shop!
The US Tobacco Co collection, housed in their pipe tobacco factory in Richmond, Va was an extensive meerschaum mainly collection like the world has not seen. it included the Columbus scene pipe, which was probably the largest and most intrically carved meer ever existed! The collection if i remember correctly had approximately 40 pipes almost as wonderful s the Columbus pipe! The collection was given to the Richmond Valentine Museum (Richmond) which exhibited it in the 1990's for a short time, tho' the museum could have cared less about it imo. The members of the Conclave Of Richmond Pipe Smokers were able to view it in a private showing! It was sold to a museum in Europe i think. Ben Rapaport did write about it and he knows more about it than anyone. such a shame to have left our shores.