It Appears Lee Van Cleef's Two Most Famous Pipes Have Been Acquired

[ziv]

@SeanM456 Is that you in your profile picture? The reason I'm asking is because the only source of this picture I could find is a post in a facebook group which doesn't say who is in the picture. The group itself has a German mobile number listed as contact.

 

[Kobold]

Movie memorabilia collectors, the ones that I've met, are very passionate about their particular interest at whatever level, from the few hundreds to the millions of dollars. It's a lot less relaxed than pipe collectors.

I never got into memorabilia, and dumped of thousands of dollars worth of stuff when I moved. I just didn't want all of that stuff. I kept the things that have a personal meaning for me, like the special version of the House Of Blues jacket that Dan Aykroyd gifted me when we worked on Coneheads, TRON background paintings, and other personal items. When I'm gone it will probably get the toss as well.

You could always will the TRON paintings to me!

 

[telescopes]

I actually have it's called clout and aura farming.

I had to look that last one up.

If you say so.

What Is Aura Farming? Gen Alpha’s Latest Obsession, Explained

What is aura farming and why does the alien under your roof keep talking about it? I dug a little deeper and learned everything I could about this annoyingly complex trend and the myriad social contexts in which it can be referenced. Read on for what I hope is a clearer picture of aura farming.

www.purewow.com

 

[SeanM456]

@SeanM456 Is that you in your profile picture? The reason I'm asking is because the only source of this picture I could find is a post in a facebook group which doesn't say who is in the picture. The group itself has a German mobile number listed as contact.

Um, yeah, that's me in my profile picture.

Maybe the reason why you couldn't find it is because it's on my private Facebook page?

It's sort of a weird that you would search for the image of me and Clint.

I know I posted it in the Sad Hill group once upon a time, and it's also on my personal Instagram as well.

 

[SeanM456]

I don't know man, if it were me showing off Lee's pipe's I really wouldn't give two shits if random pipe smoking internet weirdo's believed they were the real deal.

How much did they cost if you don't mind me asking?

I'm sorry, but that is something I certainly am not comfortable sharing.

 

[anotherbob]

I'm sorry, but that is something I certainly am not comfortable sharing.

just so you know I will assume the worst. Not because you deserve that. It's just more fun for me that way. I am thinking replaced a broken septic tank without the proper tools.
Seriously though whatever it cost I am sure it's worth it. People think a 100 dollar pipe is an insane cost, pipe smokers call that low end of average. Non-hobby/non-collectors just don't understand the values of such things.

 

[anotherbob]

just so you know I will assume the worst. Not because you deserve that. It's just more fun for me that way. I am thinking replaced a broken septic tank without the proper tools.
Seriously though whatever it cost I am sure it's worth it. People think a 100 dollar pipe is an insane cost, pipe smokers call that low end of average. Non-hobby/non-collectors just don't understand the values of such things.

oh and thanks again. This little piece of info is awesome. Essentially you have found for a certain subsect of the population something akin to a holy relic. I bet some of the negative reactions are people who are mad that someone who isn't a pipe smoker has these. Despite until now these where by all might as well be somewhere in the ether if still even part of being. Resellers with Plymouth pipes should send you small finders fee for how much more valuable or at least moveable their pipes just became.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I still don't believe this guy is really Clint Eastwood...

 

[anotherbob]

I still don't believe this guy is really Clint Eastwood...

I don't believe Embers has a wife or kids or even a Christmas tree. He's never shown us any certificates or receipts.

 

[Briarcutter]

I don't believe Embers has a wife or kids or even a Christmas tree. He's never shown us any certificates or receipts.

Without a receipt, it didn't happen

 

[fireground_piper]

I don't believe Embers has a wife or kids or even a Christmas tree. He's never shown us any certificates or receipts.

But as a collectable claim, provenance is everything. It wouldn't pass any real world test without it.

Say the pipes do move on at some point in the future. The future owner's story of validity is "I got them from a guy who got them from the family who got them from the owner".

That's just not valid for a lot of people, though I know it is to many here!

 

[xrundog]

But as a collectable claim, provenance is everything. It wouldn't pass any real world test without it.

Say the pipes do move on at some point in the future. The future owner's story of validity is "I got them from a guy who got them from the family who got them from the owner".

That's just not valid for a lot of people, though I know it is to many here!

He says he has the letter. Buying them from the family that wouldn’t be hard to get. I’d ask for one. So I find it perfectly believable.
Plus it’s 2025. He probably has phone pics and everything.
I can understand not wanting to show that stuff.

 

[SeanM456]

But as a collectable claim, provenance is everything. It wouldn't pass any real world test without it.

Say the pipes do move on at some point in the future. The future owner's story of validity is "I got them from a guy who got them from the family who got them from the owner".

That's just not valid for a lot of people, though I know it is to many here!

Considering I work as an autograph authenticator, and deal in high end movie props, this claim is also rediculous.

I do have letters from the family, so that's that, but when you're talking about autographs, props, and other collectibles, provenance rarely ever exists. This is why most companies rely on screen/photo-matching.

Anyone can make up a story, my story isn't made up though. It's actually wild that people really think I put this much time into what? Being famous on a pipe forum? I would never sell the pipes. They will go to my grave, and since I'm 29, I hope I get to have many good years left to enjoy them. Once I'm gone, I will instruct that the GBU pipe end up in a museum, especially now because the ignorance of some of the people in these forums is absurd.

I literally am extremely well known in multiple industries. What I found interesting is people claiming I should show the letters to prove they are authentic. Why should I do that? The screen-matching is more then enough proof. Should I show the letters so that people can make copies of them, or try reaching out to the person on the letter?

Nope.

 

[woodsroad]

LVC and his pipes are apparently of great interest to some people, and not at all meaningful to a lot more. To each his own, I know that I collect some pretty obscure stuff.

When they find Stalin's pipes, THAT will be significant. Maybe not a joyous occasion, though.

 

[Briarcutter]

Considering I work as an autograph authenticator, and deal in high end movie props, this claim is also rediculous.

I do have letters from the family, so that's that, but when you're talking about autographs, props, and other collectibles, provenance rarely ever exists. This is why most companies rely on screen/photo-matching.

Anyone can make up a story, my story isn't made up though. It's actually wild that people really think I put this much time into what? Being famous on a pipe forum? I would never sell the pipes. They will go to my grave, and since I'm 29, I hope I get to have many good years left to enjoy them. Once I'm gone, I will instruct that the GBU pipe end up in a museum, especially now because the ignorance of some of the people in these forums is absurd.

I literally am extremely well known in multiple industries. What I found interesting is people claiming I should show the letters to prove they are authentic. Why should I do that? The screen-matching is more then enough proof. Should I show the letters so that people can make copies of them, or try reaching out to the person on the letter?

Nope.

Please don't get discouraged my friend. I think most of us here appreciate what you are sharing, thank you! I enjoy looking, I'm not buying them, I'm just looking. Congratulations on your find.

 

[Brendan]

I literally am extremely well known in multiple industries.

But...

Who the f**k are you?

 

[SeanM456]

LVC and his pipes are apparently of great interest to some people, and not at all meaningful to a lot more. To each his own, I know that I collect some pretty obscure stuff.

When they find Stalin's pipes, THAT will be significant. Maybe not a joyous occasion, though.

I'd bet Lee's pipe from "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" would appeal to and be more significant to many more people then you think. I can guarantee you it would be worth more too.

People who don't understand movie props would never understand this. The meerschaum pipe from "National Treasure" sold for $90,000 in 2021, with no provenance or screen-matching.

As I've said many times before though, this is not about money, although I guarantee you I paid more then anyone could guess for them. It was about them going to the right home.

 

[SeanM456]

But...

Who the f**k are you?

None of your business is it? Who are you?

 

[FLDRD]

But...

Who the f**k are you?

I think more than a couple of us prefer anonymity here...

 

[Brendan]

None of your business is it? Who are you?

I'm Brendan.

It says so right above the photo of the 1792 Flake tin.

I found that tin in the glovebox of a car I once owned. It previously belonged to the actor, John Voight.