Thanks for that info.I’ve purchased pipes from that seller. They are fantastic to deal with.
That is a gourd calabash with a meerschaum cup.
Thanks for the kind words about my pipes. I love them too.
Sure. When you look into the chamber of a meer-lined pipe, you will see an enclosed area that doesn't go to the bottom of the gourd, and it will have a small hole (airway) at the bottom. A silver rim meerschaum that requires a bowl insert will look the same, but when you look down into the chamber you'll just see the gourd walls.@runscott, could you educate me on the difference between a meer-lined with a silver rim, and a silver rim and a meer insert? Other than the silver, how can I tell by a photo whether it's meer-lined, or has a meer insert?
BTW, working on old calabashes, I think was from 1911, can be tricky. When I started to clean this up so I could figure out the level of restoration, it literally exploded in my hands.
View attachment 155850
How would you go about cleaning out the gourd?Like briar pipes, prices on Calabashes vary on who made them. William Harrison seems to have been primarily a maker of calabash pipes and prices are often way less than a BBB. Condition of the silver runs the gamut. Be patient and persistent and you will find an excellent example at a fair price.
My Barling was a bargain because it was listed as an EB WB pipe in the days before eBay beefed up its cross referencing, so I got it for about $100, barely smoked. The only other one I've seen in the 14 years since sold for close to $800.
It's a neat pipe to have, but I rarely smoke it. If I buy another Calabash it will be one with a meer top and no silver covering it. Much easier to keep clean, since you can pop out the bowl and clean out the gourd.
Here's what I can say:This is the pipe in question which I looked at. Any input from anyone is very much appreciated.
RARE ANTIQUE BBB LOUIS BLUMFELD HORN STEM SILVER GOURD CALABASH ESTATE PIPE 1908 | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/124945630671
@shanez, I love your purchase! How does it smoke? Can you lend any advice now that you've had it awhile?
^^^^ This.Be patient and persistent and you will find an excellent example at a fair price.
The meer bowl is held in place by either a rubber or cork gasket. You can carefully twist out the bowl, revealing the interior of the gourd, and wipe it down. With a silver cap, that's not possible.How would you go about cleaning out the gourd?
BBB Silver Capped Gourd Calabashes will command a higher premium than lesser known brands—one recently sold for over $800 (offered by he who has very rare pipes, but, makes them look like they’re dripping wet), and two dealers accepted offers under $345.I'm bumping this thread because I'm presently interested in the same as the OP.
@TheIronMonkey what do you think the value of your pipe in this photo is? I'm considering one just like it, but in far worse condition. It's a BBB from 1908 with silver rim and horn stem. They want 350. and I'm thinking that's about too much, but I'm really ignorant when it comes to gourd calabashes. I've always wanted one though. Considering what I read in this thread and some of the photos, I think I'll pass on the 350 pipe and stay patient. But I've also noticed the price of pipes has increased significantly over the last 5-10 years.
But I still want to get educated on them.
@runscott, could you educate me on the difference between a meer-lined with a silver rim, and a silver rim and a meer insert? Other than the silver, how can I tell by a photo whether it's meer-lined, or has a meer insert?
@ashdigger, this is exactly what I'm afraid of! Is this meer lined, or a meer insert, or is this all meerschaum?
How can I possibly tell what condition the meer is in from a photo, and it's surrounded by a gourd?
BTW, the pipes I've seen of yours are awesome brother! Absolutely stunning!! I'm green with envy!
This is the pipe in question which I looked at. Any input from anyone is very much appreciated.
RARE ANTIQUE BBB LOUIS BLUMFELD HORN STEM SILVER GOURD CALABASH ESTATE PIPE 1908 | eBay - https://www.ebay.com/itm/124945630671
I'm very interested in refurbishing or restoring one, but I don't want to bite off more than I can chew. These gourd calabashes from 1900 era are hit or miss I guess. But I'm not about to spend 350 on a pipe that will come apart like the one ashdigger had. I guess you really never know till you get into it. Perhaps this is why I've hesitated on pulling the trigger on one over the years.
@shanez, I love your purchase! How does it smoke? Can you lend any advice now that you've had it awhile?
BBB Silver Capped Gourd Calabashes will command a higher premium than lesser known brands—one recently sold for over $800 (offered by he who has very rare pipes, but, makes them look like they’re dripping wet), and two dealers accepted offers under $345.
Something is only worth what someone, anyone, is willing to pay, and with an auction, it just takes two enthusiastic bidders to drive a price beyond the norm.
I’ve been buying stuff on eBay for over twenty years. I’m a big believer in sniping (placing a last second bid)—you still need to have the highest bid to win; it won’t do anything against an automatic proxy bid, but, what this will do is prevent a live counter bid. Early bids are sitting ducks for people that nickel and dime in increments to find out the limit of the bid sitting there.
Only you can decide what it’s worth bidding. Here’s a hypothetical scenario: I’ve been collecting the work of the mystery writer, Ross Macdonald (real name, Kenneth Millar) for forty years now. Suppose there’s a later printing vintage paperback that I’ve only seen listed in a bibliography, but, have never seen a picture of this book or one in real life in all my years of collecting. It’s not a first printing, no one else really cares to look for it because it’s not a first—it’s not a desirable or collectable book to most people. It’s on the shortlist of things missing from my collection. Say it gets listed on eBay for an opening bid of $20.00. I’ve never seen a copy in all my years of collecting the work of this author, and it’s one of the last things missing from my collection. Am I going to bid $21.00 for it? No, I’m probably going to bid something outlandish like $400.00 or $500.00 for it. Is it worth that? By most standards, a hard “No!” But, maybe for me, in this context, it is a resounding “Yes!”
A metal capped Calabash looks awesome, but, there’s a big caveat. Because of the rim being affixed to the gourd, it’s going to be a bitch to clean and you won’t want to risk compromising the condition, or integrity of its construction taking it apart. It will get funky. For maintaining a clean Calabash, you’re better off getting one with a removable Meerschaum cup.
Bargains can be had. You just need patience. Decide what you can live with paying, and bid accordingly.
Anyway, hope this helps.
Thanks for clarifying that. This helps.Sure. When you look into the chamber of a meer-lined pipe, you will see an enclosed area that doesn't go to the bottom of the gourd, and it will have a small hole (airway) at the bottom. A silver rim meerschaum that requires a bowl insert will look the same, but when you look down into the chamber you'll just see the gourd walls.
From a side view they will both look the same.
Jesse, that Barling Calabash is absolutely magnificent! It's a great buy with a great story. That's the kind of deal everyone dreams about. Especially when it's a maker you collect. That must be very satisfying just to own man.Like briar pipes, prices on Calabashes vary on who made them. William Harrison seems to have been primarily a maker of calabash pipes and prices are often way less than a BBB. Condition of the silver runs the gamut. Be patient and persistent and you will find an excellent example at a fair price.
My Barling was a bargain because it was listed as an EB WB pipe in the days before eBay beefed up its cross referencing, so I got it for about $100, barely smoked. The only other one I've seen in the 14 years since sold for close to $800.
It's a neat pipe to have, but I rarely smoke it. If I buy another Calabash it will be one with a meer top and no silver covering it. Much easier to keep clean, since you can pop out the bowl and clean out the gourd.
Excuse my ignorance, but I was under the impression that a Calabash was always equipped with a meerschaum bowl. Is it possible to actually smoke one with the tobacco burning in the gourd? I would think that would lead to a very quick burn out. Perhaps this is more like a corn cob? I am mostly familiar with the old Pioneer calabash which always had a meerschaum cup, secured by a cork ring.The meer bowl is held in place by either a rubber or cork gasket. You can carefully twist out the bowl, revealing the interior of the gourd, and wipe it down. With a silver cap, that's not possible.
Technically calabash refers to shape but a meerschaum insert in a gourd seems to be the classic form most people think of.Excuse my ignorance, but I was under the impression that a Calabash was always equipped with a meerschaum bowl. Is it possible to actually smoke one with the tobacco burning in the gourd? I would think that would lead to a very quick burn out. Perhaps this is more like a corn cob? I am mostly familiar with the old Pioneer calabash which always had a meerschaum cup, secured by a cork ring.
I suppose that it's possible, though I wouldn't know a rational reason to do it as it would certainly destroy the gourd.Excuse my ignorance, but I was under the impression that a Calabash was always equipped with a meerschaum bowl. Is it possible to actually smoke one with the tobacco burning in the gourd? I would think that would lead to a very quick burn out. Perhaps this is more like a corn cob? I am mostly familiar with the old Pioneer calabash which always had a meerschaum cup, secured by a cork ring.
A calabash is traditionally the type of gourd used.Technically calabash refers to shape
That's how all of my old pipe books describe them but most modern manufacturers use it simply as shape. It would be very interesting to find out when/why (or if really) the description changed. Traditional vs technical?And then there's also the whole reverse calabash thing.A calabash is traditionally the type of gourd used.
It does seem that the name has been co-opted to describe the shape of a pipe, regardless of the material used. In the same manner, I see pipes described as a Cherrywood, just because of their shape (similar to a Poker) even though they are made of briar.That's how all of my old pipe books describe them but most modern manufacturers use it simply as shape. It would be very interesting to find out when/why (or if really) the description changed. Traditional vs technical?And then there's also the whole reverse calabash thing.
If there was a distinction it must have changed pretty early since I own a Barling gourd calabash and a Barling briar calabash shape, both from 1908.It would be very interesting to find out when/why (or if really) the description changed. Traditional vs technical?