Carved Figural Briars

[BuellBriar]

BuellBriar here. Thanks to all who responded to my introduction. If you recall, I was trying to determine if my Cellini Original carved figural briar might be that of Tracy Mincer, creator of Custombilt pipes. I have since found a couple of photos of Mr. Mincer, and alas, his image is not a good match for my pipe, which was probably carved in the likeness of a Cellini customer.

I have a couple of questions for the group: For those of you who collect carved figural briars, do you think they are generally undervalued in the estate market? Do you specialize in a particular genre, such as historical figures, Custombilt animals, military, etc.?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Do you specialize in a particular genre, such as historical figures, Custombilt animals, military, etc.?

Horror

Probably going to add more skulls than anything though.

 

[anotherbob]

resale seems about like any other briar. except lower demand. but that could turn around suddenly

 

[coming to_falling too]

Horror

Probably going to add more skulls than anything though.

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Those two are very cool. Who did them, if I may ask?

 

[Chasing Embers]

Those two are very cool. Who did them, if I may ask?

The skull is Oguz Simsek and the xenomorph was done in briar by Vienna Meerschaum.

 

[TheIronMonkey]

With all pipes, I buy what appeals to me. I've collected skulls for years in various forms and materials. It's only natural that I would seek out ones as pipes. I gravitated to the work of Oguz Simsek because I like the anatomy of his skulls better than most carvers. His portrait work can be hit or miss, but, sometimes his likenesses are close enough or well done enough to warrant purchasing if the subject has meaning for you.

This half skull is dedicated to cherry tobaccos.



This olive skull is dedicated to vanilla blends:



I love the unusual depiction of this Nazca skull:



Who can resist a skull in a fez?



Just a regular skull Nosewarmer:



A happy skull that I haven't smoked yet:



I liked Oguz's portrait of Boris Karloff from The Bride of Frankenstein enough to purchase it. There are some proportion issues with some of the features, but, he got enough right that it works:



I commissioned these two Darth Vader pipes last year (Oguz's hand holding the pipes), one as a gift for a friend's birthday, and one for myself:





Moving on from Oguz Simsek, here's a Belgian clay pipe from 1914 depicting Prince Albert that I'm dedicating to Prince Albert tobacco:



This is a Colossus Pipe Factory Meerschaum skull that might be from the late 19th Century, but, is at least before 1915 or 1920 before the company morphed into Kaywoodie:



Those are most of my figural pipes at this point in time; I doubt they're my last.

 

[Chasing Embers]

This is a Colossus Pipe Factory Meerschaum skull that might be from the late 19th Century

I've had an eye out for a doctor's pipe for years but they're almost always damaged. I did find these guys though.

 

[runscott]

Since you guys are showing skulls, here's one I couldn't resist - looked like it had just been dug out of a grave. It needs a lot of work, but I think it will happen:

 

[TheIronMonkey]

Since you guys are showing skulls, here's one I couldn't resist - looked like it had just been dug out of a grave. It needs a lot of work, but I think it will happen:

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The existing patina on this is kind of awesome as is.

 

[Puffaluffaguss]

Horror

Probably going to add more skulls than anything though.

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Are those from the same guy that does the khalisi and smaug dragon pipes?

 

[Puffaluffaguss]

The skull is Oguz Simsek and the xenomorph was done in briar by Vienna Meerschaum.

Oguz Simsek on ebay is where I've seen those designs before, the price is really good I kinda had a guess that's where you getting these skull pipes. Dude is skilled

 

[Chasing Embers]

Are those from the same guy that does the khalisi and smaug dragon pipes?

One of them, yes.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

do you think they are generally undervalued in the estate market?

The drive in any market is demand v supply. And, the problem with figural pipes is that they just aren't as much in demand as the more classic shapes. I love to look at these carved pipes, but I am in no way interested in walking around with a memento mori death skull, nor a portrait of... anyone really.
But, there is obviously a small demand for them, just not as many people as would prefer to smoke a bulldog or billiard. Therefore, when they go up for sale, not as many people bid, thus keeping the price down. Thus, in a non-bidding situation the seller knows that not as many people will be jockeying to buy, so keeping the price lower is smarter.
And, even in classical shapes, the carver's fame is a big driving force behind price. And, with a much smaller fan base, figural carvers have an even smaller advantage.

 

[runscott]

I have a couple of questions for the group: For those of you who collect carved figural briars, do you think they are generally undervalued in the estate market? Do you specialize in a particular genre, such as historical figures, Custombilt animals, military, etc.?

My answer to your first question is: 'sometimes'. I collect the carved figurals that Dunhill sold, by the carvers who made Dunhill's pipes, but that do not have Dunhill's stampings. Same pipe, much lower cost. They can be had for $30-100 usually, depending on who's watching, so I would say they are undervalued. On the other hand, the knock-offs of such carvings shouldn't go for over $30 apiece in my opinion, but often do - I suppose because some bidders see, for example, a 'Vercingetorix' and think they are all the same - so perhaps the poorly-executed versions are overvalued. I believe that the pipes stamped by certain factories/carvers are certainly undervalued, but again, it depends on who is looking. I recently paid $95 for a rare figural and thought it was a bargain. Then I watched the same pipe, same condition, go for $56. It's probably that the guy who won it was the underbidder on the first one, and was quite happy that I didn't participate in the latter auction.

Here are two Vercingetorix stummels that were carved by the same pipe-maker. I normally don't acquire two of anything, but since these started off on Lamberthod's machine, and were finished by hand, I wanted to compare the detailing of the two. I am showing Vercingetorix because it's the most expensive of the
'Dunhill/Peterson' carved figurals, so it's an anomaly. Most of the others can all be found easily for under $80.

One more thing - notice that both of these have very nice grain. The lesser-quality knock-offs are frequently made with the worst briar available, and covered with fill.



Here's a lesser-quality one:

 

[kcghost]

Figural pipes hold no appeal to me but I'm glad you boys like them.

 

[FurCoat]

Some really cool pipes.

 

[BuellBriar]

My answer to your first question is: 'sometimes'. I collect the carved figurals that Dunhill sold, by the carvers who made Dunhill's pipes, but that do not have Dunhill's stampings. Same pipe, much lower cost. They can be had for $30-100 usually, depending on who's watching, so I would say they are undervalued. On the other hand, the knock-offs of such carvings shouldn't go for over $30 apiece in my opinion, but often do - I suppose because some bidders see, for example, a 'Vercingetorix' and think they are all the same - so perhaps the poorly-executed versions are overvalued. I believe that the pipes stamped by certain factories/carvers are certainly undervalued, but again, it depends on who is looking. I recently paid $95 for a rare figural and thought it was a bargain. Then I watched the same pipe, same condition, go for $56. It's probably that the guy who won it was the underbidder on the first one, and was quite happy that I didn't participate in the latter auction.

Here are two Vercingetorix stummels that were carved by the same pipe-maker. I normally don't acquire two of anything, but since these started off on Lamberthod's machine, and were finished by hand, I wanted to compare the detailing of the two. I am showing Vercingetorix because it's the most expensive of the
'Dunhill/Peterson' carved figurals, so it's an anomaly. Most of the others can all be found easily for under $80.

One more thing - notice that both of these have very nice grain. The lesser-quality knock-offs are frequently made with the worst briar available, and covered with fill.

View attachment 147389

Here's a lesser-quality one:

These are the sort of quality figural briars that appeal to me. I acknowledge that for those who must smoke every pipe he owns, presenting oneself in public with Vercingetorix dangling at the chin might appear (to some) a bit ostentatious. I consider a finely carved figural pipe--even though initially "roughed out" by a primitive machine, a work of art. (There is no question a bulldog is a better shape for the smoker. I sometimes find that heavily used figural briars are burned through at the thin portions of the bowl). Thanks.

 

[runscott]

These are the sort of quality figural briars that appeal to me. I acknowledge that for those who must smoke every pipe he owns, presenting oneself in public with Vercingetorix dangling at the chin might appear (to some) a bit ostentatious. I consider a finely carved figural pipe--even though initially "roughed out" by a primitive machine, a work of art. (There is no question a bulldog is a better shape for the smoker. I sometimes find that heavily used figural briars are burned through at the thin portions of the bowl). Thanks.

The machine was not so 'primitive'. I discovered this when I received the 2nd Vercingetorix - they have significant differences in the detailing; however, they also have exact matches in a few very precise details that must have been from the machine.

Also, I would guess 99% or more of people who have seen these pipes, believe they are entirely hand-carved.

 

[BuellBriar]

I use the word "primitive" with caution. No doubt the machines that carved the pipes a century or more ago were ingenious, complex machines for their day. And yes, the majority of carved figural briars offered by sellers today wrongly claim "hand-carved."

 

[runscott]

I use the word "primitive" with caution. No doubt the machines that carved the pipes a century or more ago were ingenious, complex machines for their day. And yes, the majority of carved figural briars offered by sellers today wrongly claim "hand-carved."

I wonder what the modern machines look like. Also, I know that Dunhill was still offering some of these shapes in the 1970's, and I doubt they built a new machine to create them.

But I don't know - it's all theorizing. Perhaps someone on this forum has answers?

Another interesting titbit: the second (lighter-colored) Vercingetorix I showed is actually all-around slightly (but noticeably) smaller than the top one. That would imply to me that there were settings on the machine as to how deep to cut the briar.