Natural, Almost non Carved Meer Pipes

[posaydal]

Has anyone ever own any of these?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NATURAL-RARE-CALABASH-MEERSCHAUM-SMOKING-PIPE-PFEIFE-HANDMADE-UNUSED-NO-RESERVE-/281969992602?hash=item41a6b8a39a:g:6S8AAOSwr7ZW6uxP

I have seen several pipes lately on ebay that look like that. I was wondering how do they look live, how do they feel in hand and how do they smoke? I know that they are supposed to look like freehand plateau briar pipes, but... I don't know, seems to me like carvers have found a way how to use meer blocks that they couldn't use otherwise, since i can see a lot of cracks on those pipes. If someone has any experience, i would love to hear them. And, as a huge meer pipe lover, i would love to be wrong in my presumptions.

 

[didimauw]

That thing scares the Hell out of me...I've never seen anything like it. Looks diseased. Ha

 

[posaydal]

I suppose that is how meerschaum looks like when its dug out of ground. Most of it is probably cut off during carving. Main thing that i would love to know is how does it smoke (taste) and does it break?

 

[jazz]

Looks like something my dentist pulled out of my head once.

 

[mso489]

It looks like the kind of a mushroom you don't want to eat.

 

[agnosticpipe]

Yeah, I was thinking it looked more like a piece of moldy cheese. Mmm, stilton....

 

[jpmcwjr]

If the top were in a field, I'd avoid stepping in it.
And, no, never seen a similar. I think your assumptions are right, though.

 

[saint007]

Thanks for the heads-up, I just bid on it.
I find it not only very interesting and different but I also see the beauty in it!

 

[metalheadycigarguy]

I wouldn't worry about the cracks you see on the outside of the pipe. The walls of the chamber are pretty thick, so I believe you would be just fine smoking it. Meerschaum pipes can tolerate a lot more heat than a briar pipe so that shouldn't be a problem.

 

[posaydal]

Saint, mate, i hope you will win it and as soon as you do, give us a nice post with a ton of pics and share your opinions. I'm eagerly looking forward to it.

 

[posaydal]

Also, i must say that i'm beginning to see some beauty in it. More that i look at it, the more i can see similarities with freehand briar. Like briar carvers follow the grain, i can see same in here, following the pattern of irregularities.

 

[saint007]

Saint, mate, i hope you will win it and as soon as you do, give us a nice post with a ton of pics and share your opinions. I'm eagerly looking forward to it.
Will do. I have a feeling this pipe could be pricey and with as many meers as I currently have, I won't overpay. I would expect it to smoke great as I haven't had one that didn't.
My daily ritual is 4 bowls a day, three in meers and one briar. I wasn't really interested in another meer but this one is so different that I hope it is afforable :wink:

 

[jeepnewbie]

That is one awesome looking pipe.

 

[brian64]

Wow...that is truly unique. At first look I was a bit repulsed...but the more I study it, the more appealing it becomes. Very unusual. Good luck Saint...hope you get it.

 

[jerwynn]

I think The Thing is AWESOME!!! And I figured out why... all my life, I've been a lightly impulsive rock and mineral collector... nothing serious like PAD or TAD... but always deelighted to pick up the odd stone, rock, crystal, etc. That Thing is INCREDIBLE as a sepiolite specimen!! YAHOOOOO!!! Go for it Dood!!!

 

[leacha]

It looks like a way to sell bad quality meerschaum.

 

[jitterbugdude]

I own one it is a really cool looking pipe. It fits nicely in my hand too. I haven't smoked it yet because a friend carved me a fancy looking meer and I have 2 Altinoks. Just haven't gotten around to it. It is pretty light so I'm not sure if it is low grade meer or not.

 

[wcannoy]

Looks neat... I've seen a few of these types of meer pipes floating around, but have no first hand experience with them... except that I have a meer stone like it in my stash.

I was writing this one up as a loss, but maybe I'll try to make a freehand shape from it after all...

 

[meerqueen]

It is the one of the worst quality meerschaum i have ever seen

 

[cossackjack]

I sort of like the quirky blue cheese or blueberry & chocolate-butterscotch veins, with a few raspberry stipples - like a weird ice cream sundae.

However, I will bow to the opinion of the Forum's meerschaum expert, Meer Queen. She knows!