How can a pipe sell for $5,610?

[quantumboy]

This pipe is so beautiful it almost defies description. Look closely at the grain: from the side, the flame is three-dimensional, and in the top view the end grain is amazing. Is it worth that kind of money? To the correct buyer, of course. If I won the lottery tomorrow I would get it in my cart ASAP. I believe what makes it so expensive is that this piece of briar is probably one in 100,000. That, and the fact that Ikebana is a legend.

https://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/Tsuge-Ikebana/moreinfo.cfm?product_id=513051

 

[VDL_Piper]

Nice pipe but I would not pay that for it and whilst I know nothing about the carver I’m inclined to think this is a typo. Edit: Quick google search tells me this price is not unusual for this carver.

 

[Lumbridge]

I'd never spend that much on a pipe even if I could easily afford it.

 

[bassbug]

The decimal place is off to the right by two places.

 

[Olkofri]

The decimal place is off to the right by two places.

More like three: the thing's rather ugly and the stem's vulcanite—ugh.

 

[wyfbane]

That is a large sum. I was saddened to see artisan carver prices in general go up quite substantially in the last 4-5 years. More power to them, I just cannot ever see me buying from them now. I was SUPER lucky to start collecting at the tail end of the good times, both PAD and TAD.

 

[Waning Embers]

Several years ago I watched a Bo Nordh go for over $30,000 so no surprise.

 

[Waning Embers]

This pipe is so beautiful it almost defies description. Look closely at the grain: from the side, the flame is three-dimensional, and in the top view the end grain is amazing. Is it worth that kind of money?

There's always another artisan and the stem fitting on that Ikebana really detracts from the shaping of the pipe.

$650

 

[sablebrush52]

I believe what makes it so expensive is that this piece of briar is probably one in 100,000. That, and the fact that Ikebana is a legend.

I think that what makes it so expensive is that there is someone emotionally unbalanced enough to pay that for a bit of wood and rubber.

 

[jguss]

I think that what makes it so expensive is that there is someone emotionally unbalanced enough to pay that for a bit of wood and rubber.

Very true. But value is a slippery and highly personal concept. I’ve heard tell that people have spent much more for a piece of old canvas with some paint smeared on it.

 

[OzPiper]

Tsuge has only 3 master artisans, of whom Fukuda-san is the most senior.
Most of his pieces are not as exorbitantly priced.
I suspect that it is Tsuge, rather than Fukuda-San, who sets the prices.

 

[Morbius]

Is it art? Maybe. Is it collectable? Certainly. Is it something that is ever going to see even the smallest hint of tobacco within it's chamber? Probably not. Just another rich guy's toy which may have the unfortunate side effect of raising the prices for the pipe buying public.

 

[khiddy]

It’s ugly and overpriced.

At least my Silver status at SP would get me 5% off, so there’s that.

 

[Epip Oc'Cabot]

To me, while the pipe is “artisan” and done well as an “art” piece…. to my own tastes, it is rather ugly (probably I should say, “unattractive”). For me it looks like a melted blob. If there was a $50 pipe in a “lesser” briar of that shape, for me I would forgo it to get a standard shaped Dr. Grabow or even a cob. Again, the skill is evident….. but the result would be akin to the equivalent of me being offered gourmet tripe or chitlins…. I would pass.

 

[BingBong]

You'd only pay that if it was loose change to you. Nice pipe but hey, not for the likes of most of us. Does that upset me? No. It makes no difference to my life whatsoever.

 

[Brad H]

That a

There's always another artisan and the stem fitting on that Ikebana really detracts from the shaping of the pipe.

$650
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Is that a Monfroid Horid ??

 

[Waning Embers]

That a

Is that a Monfroid Horid ??

Bruce Weaver fugu blowfish.

 

[fireground_piper]

Eh, if there’s something of real genuine interest, the going price is the going price.

People spend a lot more for much less throughout their lives.

 

[Choatecav]

To get a flavor of just how fickle, trendy, political, wishy-washy, etc. the establishing of "value" can be.... just watch a few episodes of Antisques Roadshow where someone totes out a couple of beat up tin cans with paint on them done by a minority artist in the 1950's and they say it's worth $200,000.

 

[Waning Embers]

Imagine paying $4500 for this one.