Rare Meerschuam Pipes

[mvp2]

Hey everyone. I have a Meerschaum pipe set that I believe is pretty rare. I have taken it to my local smoke shop (with about 100 years of service) and I have googled for days and haven't found anything like it. I don't know what the value is and I am looking to sell it on eBay for a friend of mine. It has 9 different pipes in the set including one that is about 40 inches long. I am wondering if someone knowledgeable (like many on here are) could help me with some history (maker/country) and more importantly the value of this set so I know what to start the bidding at.
Disclaimer (lol): I am new to this site so I don't know the rules. If this post is against any rules or regulations when it comes to the forums...I apologize and please feel free to remove it. Also, I cannot find a way to post pictures of this set on this forum but I have plenty of them to share. If someone could help with the appraisal I would gladly email them pictures or send them somehow through this site if it is possible. Thanks!

 

[jpmcwjr]

Try this for photos:
To get photos to load quickly and show in the post, you first have to upload the photo to this site.

1.) Login

2.) Go to My Account (may have hit Home button first) and down to Album.

3.) Choose Upload Picture (navigate to photo you've given a sensible name to), be sure to then hit Upload.

4.) Go back to Album, click on thumbnail to open full size image. Right click (Windows); Control Click (Mac) and copy the URL, then paste same in desired thread, using the IMG tag in the compose window.

 

[ssjones]

Moving this to the "Pipe Talk" section.

 

[mvp2]

Thanks Al for putting this post in the correct place . Also, thanks for helping me upload pictures to the site jpmcwjr! Here are the pictures...
As I said, Please let me know what you think they are worth and maybe some history (maker/ where its from etc.) on this set. Any information would be much appreciated!!! Thanks!!
Picture 1 (Complete Set)

Picture 2 (Large Pipe)

Picture 3 (Large Pipe Closeup)

Picture 4 (Small Pipe 1)

Picture 5 (Small Pipe 1 - Front)

Picture 6 (Small Pipe - Skull)

Picture 7 (Small Pipe - Skull Front)

Picture 8 (Small Pipe - Skull Smoked)

Picture 9 (Small Pipe - Animal - Side)

Picture 10 (Small Pipe - Animal - Front)

Picture 11 (Small Pipe - Silver Lining)

Picture 12 (Small Pipe - Woman 1)

Picture 13 (Small Pipe - Woman 2)

Picture 14 (Long Pipe 2)

 

[jpmcwjr]

What a collection! I'd guess some are worth very little, ranging to quite a bit.
And glad my instructions worked! (Tried to get others to test in another thread, but it was not to be.)

 

[ericthered]

Welcome to the forums, and good job figuring out how to load your pics! That's a heckuva case! It looks homemade to me, albeit very well done. I've never seen a yard-long stem on a meerschaum before. Most meerschaums, at least the lower end ones, don't have provenance markings on them, so determining their manufacturer will be difficult to nigh-on impossible. The two briar pipes probably have some sort of markings on the stem to at least identify country of origin if not the manufacturer. The 16" clay pipe is likely from Williamsburg Pottery made to be a functional replica of the clay tavern pipes from colonial days. They are sold as souvenirs at historic Williamsburg, VA, and likely elsewhere. I notice from the first pic that there's also a kiseru Japanese pipe in there as well.
As to value, your best bet is to search sold ebay listings for similar pipes to see what comparables have sold for. My own dubious speculation of their value is as follows:

$20-$40 a piece for the smaller figural/skull meers,

$10-$20 each for the bull's head briar and the clay tavern pipe,

$10-$20 for the silver? inlay pipe if it's a no-name, more if it is from a recognizable manufacturer,

$20-$80 for the LONG meer- it's hard to put a value on this one because on one hand it's really uncommon, but on the other it's REALLY cumbersome. I may be way off.

I have no idea what kind of value to ascribe to the kiseru and the custom case... maybe $20-$50 each?
Take everything I've said with an ocean's worth of salt, because these are simply my own speculations. There are many members here who have more experience and expertise from which to derive more accurate and realistic estimates than mine.
Anyways, good luck with your search, and again, welcome!

 

[xrundog]

Meerschaum and wood figural pipes are all about the carving quality. Those are just okay. The long stem pipe is the best and it's pretty average. It's unusual to see a big set like that though. And the little used condition is nice. It's hard to say what it might bring. You'd think that the set would be worth $1000 easy. But if you tried a set price like that, I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't sell. And a straight auction with a low starting price might bring a really high or really low price. Start it too high and it probably won't sell. The silver inlay pipe is nice. But that type of pipe is more art/novelty. The metal gets hot when the pipe is smoked. Not very practical. I don't think anyone will go big on the set just to get it.
Like any opinion about eBay sales, mine could be totally wrong.

 

[wyfbane]

Welcome to the site. Hope you get a pipe or two and hang out after your sale is done. :lol:
I agree with what xrun said.
That big meer tho. That will get you some $. I got my long meer close to 2 years ago. I hunted til I got it for $95. Big meers can be used as decorative pieces. That thing is the longest one I have seen to date. It should get you a deal more than mine if it is undamaged.
Is he determined to sell it as a set? It will detract from the value of the big meer if you do that. None of the other pipes are in the same league.
Best of luck!

 

[condorlover1]

All the meerschaums are modern pipes probably without cases so they are probably not older than 20 years and you can tell by removing the stems from the shanks. The quality of the carving is pretty much standard and nothing special so they price would be pretty much whatever anyone is willing to pay for the things. Maybe $200-400 for the lot but sold as separate pieces you might do better then selling them as a group. I have not purchased a new meerschaum pipe in 30 years so I am the wrong guy to ask but I would say you will probably find takers.

 

[warren]

Yup, the meers are pretty run of the mill. The bull looks to be to be "folk art." Same with the inlaid briar. The long meer may be what gets the others sold. There are collectors who would want that one.
I'm not that sure of my memory but, I believe my local vendor was selling that particular model for a couple hundred bucks back in the late eighties. It might be a CAO as he carried them back in the day.

 

[mvp2]

Awesome! Thanks for the advice and information. Do you guys think it would be a better idea to sell it together or each pipe individually? Please keep the information coming!

 

[disinformatique]

Depending on who made it the prices can range from 200 dollars to 2000. For those pipe I wont pay more than $250-$300

 

[condorlover1]

The meerschaums should be sold as a 'job lot' and after wracking my brains I saw several of these long pipes at the NY Pipe Show. They are usually made in carved sections with a plastic tenion in one piece and the female receiver in the other section. With all of these pipes if you remove the stem from the shank and find the tenions are made of clear plastic which they will be then you are dealing with a very modern pipe. The only thing that might increase the value is if the long pipe was produced by a famous Turkish carvers but I saw several of these very elaborate pipes at the NY Pipe Show which came with a fitted case earlier in the year and the prices were under $150.00 if my memory is not failing me. I hope that is of some help but then you may get lucky and find three crazy buyers that may fight over the collection. You never know your luck in these screwed up economic times.