Dragon-Phoenix Meerschaum Bowls

[buroak]

Has anyone had experience with meerschaum bowls from an eBay seller with the handle dragon-phoenix? I am interested in their meer bowl for the Aristocob, but I am a bit hesitant. They claim to turn their own bowls from block meerschaum, but Turkey does not export block, at least to my knowledge.

 

[ashdigger]

Can’t help on this specific question, but I’ve purchased pipes from this seller and have always been very pleased.

Ask the seller, any time I’ve had questions they respond very fast.

 

[buroak]

Can’t help on this specific question, but I’ve purchased pipes from this seller and have always been very pleased.

Ask the seller, any time I’ve had questions they respond very fast.

Glad to hear it, artist formerly known as rsuninv! The seller is quick to reply, but the answers about the meerschaum are ever so ambiguous. I can’t tell if they have a secret supply of raw block, or if they are a Turkish seller who operates a store selling stock imported into the US. I mostly want to avoid buying clay, asbestos, or sticky-tack masquerading as meerschaum.

 

[buroak]

He says he gets raw block from Turkey, and then turns the bowls here. Given Turkey’s prohibitions on taking block out of the country, I’m feeling iffy.

 

[buroak]

@ashdigger, I am glad you have had good luck with the seller. I am going to steer clear. After I asked about the source of his meerschaum, I got a hostile reply. He told me it was none of my business, and then added, “[y]ou've done nothing but push me for information.” He claimed the only reason to ask about his meerschaum was to try to undercut him somehow. I’ll just keep smoking the cob inserts in my Aristocob.

 

[Briarcutter]

@ashdigger, I am glad you have had good luck with the seller. I am going to steer clear. After I asked about the source of his meerschaum, I got a hostile reply. He told me it was none of my business, and then added, “[y]ou've done nothing but push me for information.” He claimed the only reason to ask about his meerschaum was to try to undercut him somehow. I’ll just keep smoking the cob inserts in my Aristocob.

Where is this seller located?

 

[buroak]

Indianapolis. I don’t believe that city was ever within the Ottoman Empire, much less modern Turkey.

One (1) Aristocob Meerschaum Liner Turkish Block Meerschaum Insert For Aristocob | eBay

PICTURED ARISTOCOB ALUMINUM PIPE STEM IS NOT INCLUDED,/ FOR DISPLAY PURPOSES ONLY.

ebay.us

 

[Waning Embers]

He says he gets raw block from Turkey, and then turns the bowls here. Given Turkey’s prohibitions on taking block out of the country, I’m feeling iffy.

The fellow at Meerschaum Gallery located in the US does the same. It's real meerschaum.

 

[buroak]

The fellow at Meerschaum Gallery located in the US does the same. It's real meerschaum.

Does that chap have a website or store on eBay, Etsy, or the like?

 

[Waning Embers]

Does that chap have a website or store on eBay, Etsy, or the like?

Sure does you'll find him under Pipes Depot and Meerschaum Gallery on ebay and etsy. He takes commissions but also is a distributor for Kenan, Ali, Fatih, Tekin and others.

 

[buroak]

Sure does you'll find him under Pipes Depot and Meerschaum Gallery on ebay and etsy. He takes commissions but also is a distributor for Kenan, Ali, Fatih, Tekin and others.

He’s got some nice spigots and Falcon bowls.

 

[Waning Embers]

Falcon bowls.

Now those he makes himself. The spigots are based on pipes that @condorlover1 gave to him to copy.

 

[buroak]

Now those he makes himself. The spigots are based on pipes that @condorlover1 gave to him to copy.

View attachment 423981

If @condorlover1 will overlook Meerschaum Gallery’s dealings with we retrograde Falcon-smokers, then MG must be good.

 

[ashdigger]

@ashdigger, I am glad you have had good luck with the seller. I am going to steer clear. After I asked about the source of his meerschaum, I got a hostile reply. He told me it was none of my business, and then added, “[y]ou've done nothing but push me for information.” He claimed the only reason to ask about his meerschaum was to try to undercut him somehow. I’ll just keep smoking the cob inserts in my Aristocob.

This is good info. Sorry you had a bad experience and more importantly bad messaging.

I’ll keep this info in mind.

 

[ashdigger]

I hope I’m not ratting anyone out. I know for fact my favorite carver has turned meerschaum bowls for at least two pipes.

I never thought about where the meerschaum was sourced from. It’s obviously out there in the wild.

 

[Goblin_Walrus]

Sure does you'll find him under Pipes Depot and Meerschaum Gallery on ebay and etsy. He takes commissions but also is a distributor for Kenan, Ali, Fatih, Tekin and others.

Well ok, now I have another pipe on the way Thanks @Chasing Embers

 

[Waning Embers]

Well ok, now I have another pipe on the way Thanks @Chasing Embers

Most of the meerschaum pipes I've owned in recent years came from there. Great fellow to deal with. Which one did you get?

 

[buroak]

I hope I’m not ratting anyone out. I know for fact my favorite carver has turned meerschaum bowls for at least two pipes.

I never thought about where the meerschaum was sourced from. It’s obviously out there in the wild.

I’m not squeamish about meerschaum pipes/bowls being made here from raw block, so no worries on that front. For me the question is whether something made here is actually block meerschaum. Clearly the Meerschaum Gallery pipes and Falcon bowls are the real deal.

In the case of the Aristocob bowls that launched this thread, my questions arose from an appearance closer to pottery than carved meerschaum, including meerschaum left smooth by the carver.

 

[Goblin_Walrus]

Most of the meerschaum pipes I've owned in recent years came from there. Great fellow to deal with. Which one did you get?

I went with one of the miniature egg-in-claw ones, definitely have my eye on a few others though!