Giant Meer Collection - Beautiful Work

[pruss]

Ran across this listing on flea-bay while cruising for beater estate pipes to wreck... er I mean practice restoration on. I'll post the link to the photos. This is a gigantic collection of meerschaum pipes for sale, and while most of us probably don't have the $40k that the vendor is asking, I think all of us will appreciate some of the workmanship in these pipes.
I particularly love the carving of the hound pipe, and the way the colour has come up in the meer. Beautiful.
If I'm breaking a forum rule by posting this link, please delete with my apologies.
Best,
-- Pat
Link to pics:
http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages/showimage.aspx?gid=973566&image=640296750&images=640296750,640296793,640296822,640296845,640296891,640296938,640296977,640297031,640297110,640297154,640297214,640297252,640297275,640297292,640297326,640297381,640297505,640297536,640297565,640297613,640297661,640297713,640297746,640297775&formats=0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0&format=0

 

[topd]

Some awesome pipes! All from the 19th century I think. Beautiful..... With some repair work

on some, they belong in a museum. Thanks for sharing these.....

 

[brian64]

Amazing collection...very interesting pieces...thanks for posting.

 

[topd]

If I had 40 Grand not tagged for something else.... I'd offer a lot less and bet he'd take it.
It has to be an estate collection.... The collector himself would most likely never sell these....

 

[teufelhund]

Simply amazing; I am at a loss for words.

 

[gnatjulio]

Wow, that is an incredible collection.

 

[pruss]

It has to be an estate collection....

I had the same thought TopD. I wondered if the sale of the collection as a whole, was designed to attract museum purchases or to sell to other collectors. I assume that if the vendor has the ability to date, determine carver/manufacturer, and assess condition, wouldn't a collection like this be worth more if sold off piece by piece?
-- Pat