The Charatan Coronation on the previous thread is very nice and I think this one is a real 'corker'! Below is a photo of a photo that my father took of the first Charatan Summa Cum Laude – I think that there were only 3 ever made? He took this picture in the factory's showroom with a black & white film on a Polaroid camera! I think this one is from 1971 or 1972?
When I saw it, I remember going weak in the knees as it had the most beautiful grain, right around the bowl, that I have ever seen. The plaque says 9000. I think that was the price of it in 1971 - $9,000 which, in those days, was a huge amount of money. I think this one was the pre-cursor to Herman Lane's first $10,000 pipe.
Charatan used to make a duplicate mouthpiece for only a very few pipes that were truly exceptional. I think this second mouthpiece was made from catalin which was the material used to make the Charatan 'after hours' series.
I would love to know who is smoking this pipe now - has anyone seen this pipe or has anyone got this one in their collection? Any feedback from members re: the dating or the ownership would be most welcome.
When I saw it, I remember going weak in the knees as it had the most beautiful grain, right around the bowl, that I have ever seen. The plaque says 9000. I think that was the price of it in 1971 - $9,000 which, in those days, was a huge amount of money. I think this one was the pre-cursor to Herman Lane's first $10,000 pipe.
Charatan used to make a duplicate mouthpiece for only a very few pipes that were truly exceptional. I think this second mouthpiece was made from catalin which was the material used to make the Charatan 'after hours' series.
I would love to know who is smoking this pipe now - has anyone seen this pipe or has anyone got this one in their collection? Any feedback from members re: the dating or the ownership would be most welcome.