In another thread, some of my meers were posted. But I decided to take better photos of my Bekler abstracts, especially with the acquisition of nos. 3 and 4. They acquired 70s-ish names, which I felt were appropriate.
This was my first Bekler, and as it has his full name and is dated '74, I think it's unsold Golden Horn stock. The unsmoked pipe came with two shank extensions, one original (of very high-quality stone like the pipe), the other of low-quality chalky meerschaum; I removed the 2nd extension. It came in a CAO box case, and I think CAO got Bekler around '78. Since one of Bekler's series of abstracts for CAO was titled "Homage to Picasso," this pipe with three open loops, carved and polished but then drilled with thousands of tiny pits, became "Picasso 74."
My 2nd (actually my 3rd Bekler, after a 1980 limited series poodle) is also smooth, but with some pretty floral carvings in several spots. It has two holes in the body and, again, has the full "ismet Bekler" sig. It has lost its case, but it does have the brass Golden Horn logo dot in the stem, later adopted by CAO. Naturally, titled "Les Fleur."
Next, only last year, was this unsmoked pipe, smooth, with two holes and a little hook. This is the only one which won't really 'sit.' It has the Golden Horn stem dot (inserted a bit off-center, which I consider charming in a way) and his full name, and has a large, blue velvet-covered box case. Its mate, also beautiful, was in a red case, and family of its former owner always referred to them as 'red box' and 'blue box,' hence "Blue."
My latest acquisition is not signed. Being that Bekler's earliest imports to the US, through Irving Korn's Royal, were not signed, and I know that some unsold Golden Horn stock seems to have been taken up and sold by CAO, I believe this to be unsold Royal stock, surviving Golden Horn, then being given a new stem (with brass logo dot) and fitted case by CAO. I know of only two artists who did truly wild abstracts, Bekler and his cousin Kural, and this looks like Bekler's style. It has no holes, but it does stand up, and it has a gorgeous extension with that translucent quality. Due to the appearance of the bowl, when viewed from the front, looking a bit like a swaying sail, it's "Smooth Sailing" from here on!
Questions and comments are appreciated. In the future, I'd love to obtain more of these. I like all of Bekler's abstract pipes, but there are only a handful that I truly love.
This was my first Bekler, and as it has his full name and is dated '74, I think it's unsold Golden Horn stock. The unsmoked pipe came with two shank extensions, one original (of very high-quality stone like the pipe), the other of low-quality chalky meerschaum; I removed the 2nd extension. It came in a CAO box case, and I think CAO got Bekler around '78. Since one of Bekler's series of abstracts for CAO was titled "Homage to Picasso," this pipe with three open loops, carved and polished but then drilled with thousands of tiny pits, became "Picasso 74."
My 2nd (actually my 3rd Bekler, after a 1980 limited series poodle) is also smooth, but with some pretty floral carvings in several spots. It has two holes in the body and, again, has the full "ismet Bekler" sig. It has lost its case, but it does have the brass Golden Horn logo dot in the stem, later adopted by CAO. Naturally, titled "Les Fleur."
Next, only last year, was this unsmoked pipe, smooth, with two holes and a little hook. This is the only one which won't really 'sit.' It has the Golden Horn stem dot (inserted a bit off-center, which I consider charming in a way) and his full name, and has a large, blue velvet-covered box case. Its mate, also beautiful, was in a red case, and family of its former owner always referred to them as 'red box' and 'blue box,' hence "Blue."
My latest acquisition is not signed. Being that Bekler's earliest imports to the US, through Irving Korn's Royal, were not signed, and I know that some unsold Golden Horn stock seems to have been taken up and sold by CAO, I believe this to be unsold Royal stock, surviving Golden Horn, then being given a new stem (with brass logo dot) and fitted case by CAO. I know of only two artists who did truly wild abstracts, Bekler and his cousin Kural, and this looks like Bekler's style. It has no holes, but it does stand up, and it has a gorgeous extension with that translucent quality. Due to the appearance of the bowl, when viewed from the front, looking a bit like a swaying sail, it's "Smooth Sailing" from here on!
Questions and comments are appreciated. In the future, I'd love to obtain more of these. I like all of Bekler's abstract pipes, but there are only a handful that I truly love.
) I was so lucky to buy one for a great price at ebay. Would love to put out some pictures, but i dont know how. What i got, is a Golden Horn, blue velvet box, with the full "Ismet Bekler" signature. Its nearly used at all. White and shiny. It looks like a duck shaped shoe, so to speak. Its a sitter and has a good size to it. Im in love, and now i just want more. I wish there could be a site where you could see all the abstract pipes that Bekler has made. That would be something. Hopefully i will fix pictures of this pipe to see. And i hope there will be more pictures to come here of Beklers abstract meerschaum pipes. Sorry my pore english. Best regards from Norway.
