Best Meer Non-Traditional Animal Artisan (and best American Bison)?

[Waning Embers]

I didn't know Savinellis didn't used to be popular, I guess I'm just used to them being the gold standard factory brand

Mainly here several years ago. Some said they felt like plastic, others didn't care for the taste of the chamber coating, etc. Things go around and come around. I've seen McClelland, Gawith, Mac Baren, and Sutliff hate over the years now they are gushed over.

 

[Zamora]

Mainly here several years ago. Some said they felt like plastic, others didn't care for the taste of the chamber coating, etc. Things go around and come around. I've seen McClelland, Gawith, Mac Baren, and Sutliff hate over the years now they are gushed over.

I've certainly seen a lot of people complain about the chamber coatings Petersons have, not a surprise people wouldn't like it in other brands. In my short time pipe smoking I've certainly seen a major shift in how C&D, Lakeland brands, Mac B, and Sutliff are talked about.

 

[condorlover1]

No it's okay. For years I was the forum Savinelli and skull guy just as neither garnered much attention. Now Savinellis are popular and several guys are now getting into skulls.

I have been very lucky in that regard in that no one on this forum is insane enough to start collecting 'cutty' meerschaum pipes!

 

[BurleyVonPuffington]

So the end to the story. Finally got a Kenan buffalo pipe, and I’m very happy with it.

 

[mortonbriar]

That is really nice, I like the rustication/fur.

What did the buffalo dad say as his kid walked out the door?

Bye son!

 

[Brig]

I ville to antique carved Victorian era meets, and no one carving today seems to have the skill of those artisans once upon a yesteryear. Yanik might be the closest.

Keep in mind most of the Turkish meers you see offered on eBay and the like are rapidly carved, essentially mass-produced pipes. Carvers are able to get away with this crap quality because Turkey has banned the export of raw meer to control the market, so there's very little competition out there. When you do find a good carver, they can command a premium.

I hear Yanik's prices are more reasonable when direct commissioned. I certainly hope so as I am considering having him do some work. Have heard the same on his drilling, but it seems his straight pipes are usually reliably drilled.

 

[Waning Embers]

When you do find a good carver, they can command a premium.

Directly from the carver you can get them nearly half price of retailers. I've never paid more than $260 for any of mine and those include the work of Kenan, Ali, Mehmet Fatih, and Yanik. I won't buy anything else from Yanik due to his drilling and packaging methods though.

 

[Brig]

Directly from the carver you can get them nearly half price of retailers. I've never paid more than $260 for any of mine and those include the work of Kenan, Ali, Mehmet Fatih, and Yanik. I won't buy anything else from Yanik due to his drilling and packaging methods though.

What's his packaging methods?

 

[Waning Embers]

What's his packaging methods?

His larger pipes come in velvet lined cases that aren't form fitting like you often find meerschaum pipes with. During shipping the pipes get bounced around and can break like an owl of his I ordered last year.

 

[Brig]

His larger pipes come in velvet lined cases that aren't form fitting like you often find meerschaum pipes with. During shipping the pipes get bounced around and can break like an owl of his I ordered last year.

He doesn't even wrap them?

I have two Yanik pipes...a smaller one with dogs, and a larger one of a woman smelling a flower... both are in form fitted cases, but I think both are older carves of his. I got them off eBay

 

[Waning Embers]

He doesn't even wrap them?

Nope

 

[Waning Embers]

got them off eBay

Unless I'm mistaken, I believe his only shop is on ebay.

 

[fishmansf]

I agree with @Chasing Embers , Yanik is hands down the best figural carver and his pipes are very reasonably priced

 

[Ulfson]

yeah. It's that type of carving that in the 1600s would spread rumors about deviltry and necromantic alchemy. As in yeah it looks less like a carving and more like a proportionally shrunk head turned to mineral. Not even the most impressive one in my opinion. I saw one table top pipe that had a carved forest scene with dense foliage, The foliage was individually carved.
If I ever become filthy rich, before starting a charity to avoid the temptations and possible corruptions of life being too easy I am going to try and purchase a goodly collection of amazing antique meers.

 

[Ulfson]

I ville to antique carved Victorian era meets, and no one carving today seems to have the skill of those artisans once upon a yesteryear. Yanik might be the closest.

Keep in mind most of the Turkish meers you see offered on eBay and the like are rapidly carved, essentially mass-produced pipes. Carvers are able to get away with this crap quality because Turkey has banned the export of raw meer to control the market, so there's very little competition out there. When you do find a good carver, they can command a premium.

I hear Yanik's prices are more reasonable when direct commissioned. I certainly hope so as I am considering having him do some work. Have heard the same on his drilling, but it seems his straight pipes are usually reliably drilled.

Hear, hear !

 

[NC TX ID pipeman]

My only meerschaum bison pipe is vintage Bekler...