Let’s see them. If you have them they should be colored up nicely and that translucence should look incredible by now!
Finally A Translucent Meerschaum
- Thread starter cshubhra
- Start date
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Let’s see them. If you have them they should be colored up nicely and that translucence should look incredible by now!
The way (IIRC) that Altinay explained it to me is that the carver has to be looking for it as they rough out a block. It doesn’t really present itself until it’s smoothed out and polished, and lots of Meer is carved so intricately that the translucent appearance is lost. When you have one in your hand vs. looking at photos on the internet, it’s much easier to see how that could be the case.
FWIW, I’ve owned/sold quite a few meers at this point, and I’ve only seen it once. Not that I’ve handled any more than anyone here, but I’ve only seen it once and it was pointed out to me by Altinay. I think it’s a term he came up with to market them, but I also think it’s known among carvers. Whether or not they choose to highlight it is on them. That said, I’d love to see how others’ have colored since this thread brought so many of them out of the woodwork.
FWIW, I’ve owned/sold quite a few meers at this point, and I’ve only seen it once. Not that I’ve handled any more than anyone here, but I’ve only seen it once and it was pointed out to me by Altinay. I think it’s a term he came up with to market them, but I also think it’s known among carvers. Whether or not they choose to highlight it is on them. That said, I’d love to see how others’ have colored since this thread brought so many of them out of the woodwork.
This is the thread (Although now hijacked ) is where I post progress.
Thread 'Coloring Progress Over Time/No of Bowls in one Meerschaum Pipe'
Coloring Progress Over Time/No of Bowls in one Meerschaum Pipe :: Meerschaum Pipes - https://pipesmagazine.com/forums/threads/coloring-progress-over-time-no-of-bowls-in-one-meerschaum-pipe.91885/
Wow, that was a while ago, I've only got two lattice IMPs and the horn left. I got rid of the rest of them a while back.
I have one from Altinay and it is the only one I've ever come across to date as well...and I have several meers from different carvers/outlets.
The interesting thing about mine is that it has been coloring much more slowly than average...I expected just the opposite. The below pics were taken just a week or so ago, and it has been smoked every day for nearly two years now. My theory is that these translucent blocks are not all the same...it may depend on how fine or coarse the "grain" is in each one?
The pic that Said Altinay posted of his personal translucent meer which was heavily colored showed a coarse pattern, whereas the one I see in mine is much finer, so I'm thinking perhaps that might account for the slow coloring.
Something about them is truly unique. If I’m being 100% honest, I’d probably let my Dall ram pipe go before my translucent Meer. For me, it’s just the perfect pipe, especially now. It’s the right size, shape, and weight. My lack of smoking has placed me in the enlightened, “Duane state of mind” where I can’t really look at them as much more than an implement to smoke tobacco. I’m not as entrenched in the hobby anymore, so I see the majority of them as taking up space and money.
My translucent pipe escapes this classification.