Meer Display, Would You?
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In general, I resist the urge to openly display pipes. Dust and light are not kind to pipes. I prefer to keep them in a cabinet behind closed doors. Sure, I might not impress the neighbors without a nice, easily viewable display, but I know that they're in there and that's all that matters to me.
My ought two cents worth on this:
I have three meers that I smoke. Each cost me a minimum of $180.00 USD
Before I purchased I did a lot of research. Some criteria that I had.
Block meerschaum
Not a mini-meer of which there are many
Bowl size
Height
O.D. I figure if you are going to buy a pipe it's either to smoke or collect or maybe both but once a new, unsmoked pipe has been smoked it's just another used pipe.
I have an IMP - excellent meer
I have a custom ordered Altinok - excellent meer
I have a VAUN meer lined pipe that is lined with pressed Meerschaum but it too is an excellent pipe.
I did have one unfortunate experience that I will pass on for you.
I purchased what I thought was a hand carved from block Meerschaum a pipe from a Canadian retailer at what I thought was a 'too' good to be true price. You know that saying about if a deal seems too good to be true it usually is.
And this is after calling at least 3 times to speak with a person at this shop. I realize now all my direct questions got vague answers and out right lies.
Turns out the pipe was a mini-meer with a stem cheaper than what is found on a MM. The bowl was what I call thimble size. I paid $136.00 CDN
The shop was at least kind enough to accept the return and refund my money but I still paid shipping twice.
If you are looking for a Meerschaum pipe, my personal take would be to purchase two or three good quality ones by a recognized company or artisan rather than ten no name meers of unknown quality.
Just my two cents worth.
Good luck and happy puffing!
I have three meers that I smoke. Each cost me a minimum of $180.00 USD
Before I purchased I did a lot of research. Some criteria that I had.
Block meerschaum
Not a mini-meer of which there are many
Bowl size
Height
O.D. I figure if you are going to buy a pipe it's either to smoke or collect or maybe both but once a new, unsmoked pipe has been smoked it's just another used pipe.
I have an IMP - excellent meer
I have a custom ordered Altinok - excellent meer
I have a VAUN meer lined pipe that is lined with pressed Meerschaum but it too is an excellent pipe.
I did have one unfortunate experience that I will pass on for you.
I purchased what I thought was a hand carved from block Meerschaum a pipe from a Canadian retailer at what I thought was a 'too' good to be true price. You know that saying about if a deal seems too good to be true it usually is.
And this is after calling at least 3 times to speak with a person at this shop. I realize now all my direct questions got vague answers and out right lies.
Turns out the pipe was a mini-meer with a stem cheaper than what is found on a MM. The bowl was what I call thimble size. I paid $136.00 CDN
The shop was at least kind enough to accept the return and refund my money but I still paid shipping twice.
If you are looking for a Meerschaum pipe, my personal take would be to purchase two or three good quality ones by a recognized company or artisan rather than ten no name meers of unknown quality.
Just my two cents worth.
Good luck and happy puffing!
Personally, I would not buy it. I'd have to see them up close, but I suspect from what I can see that they're 1970s pipes, probably with ho-hum carving-- a lion, a tiger, and several of the extremely common subjects: native, fisherman, Arabian/bedouin, Egyptian, and the common "bearded man wearing a turban" of which the early Turkish carvers made millions, plus a saxophone with fairly plain shank sections. Some pipe displays like this damage the pipes in mounting, but these use the rubber claw mounts, which is nice. They are indeed surely block, but I, myself, won't pay $60+ per for what I think of as generic vintage Turkish meerschaums.
If you like them and the price is right for you, go ahead. I'd hazard a guess of a maybe 95% chance they're block; the Turkish have produced pressed meerschaums, but to me, they're easy to spot: the carvings look as though small bits fell out here and there. They have a roughness that's visibly not just the result of low-quality carving. I would absolutely examine them in person first, or at least in very close photos!
If you like them and the price is right for you, go ahead. I'd hazard a guess of a maybe 95% chance they're block; the Turkish have produced pressed meerschaums, but to me, they're easy to spot: the carvings look as though small bits fell out here and there. They have a roughness that's visibly not just the result of low-quality carving. I would absolutely examine them in person first, or at least in very close photos!
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