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U

Ulfson

Guest
That is a very nice figural pipe. The color is so perfectly even that I suspect it is colored. I’m not sure if the high gloss is due to polishing or some other treatment.
I agree. Initially, before I read your remarks about vintage Meerschaum pre-coloring- which I was completely unaware of, I was marveling at the evenness and richness of color. Now, upon reflection, it looks too perfect to be a wholly natural product of oils, resins and smoke. As to the shine I have wiped it with pure beeswax on a microfiber cloth to clean and add a little, hopefully not too unnatural luster to the pipe. And then finished, not on the basis of any knowledge about what I was doing, but with an amateur's hope I was doing no harm, a light rubbing with 'Renaissance brand 'micro-crystalline wax polish'" prior to storage/display.
 
U

Ulfson

Guest
I agree. Initially, before I read your remarks about vintage Meerschaum pre-coloring- which I was completely unaware of, I was marveling at the evenness and richness of color. Now, upon reflection, it looks too perfect to be a wholly natural product of oils, resins and smoke. As to the shine I have wiped it with pure beeswax on a microfiber cloth to clean and add a little, hopefully not too unnatural luster to the pipe. And then finished, not on the basis of any knowledge about what I was doing, but with an amateur's hope I was doing no harm, a light rubbing with 'Renaissance brand 'micro-crystalline wax polish'" prior to storage/display.
P.S. this pipe is not a smoker for me, so I suspect my use of the Renaissance wax might impart an off odor and/or inhibit the porosity/absorbency of the Meerschaum. I'd never so treat a pipe intended for smoking
 
U

Ulfson

Guest
It is.


If you like skull pipes, give Kenan and Ali a look.

View attachment 408010View attachment 408011
The bottom pipe must be pre-colored (?) though the
It is.


If you like skull pipes, give Kenan and Ali a look.

View attachment 408010View attachment 408011
I guess the bottom pipe is pre-colored, though the top, which I like best, the color is so subtle that it looks amazingly natural. They are both exquisitely carved. I see the names Kenan, Ali and S. Yanik often. Does anyone know, for instance, in the case of S. Yanik- there seem to be SO MANY intricate pieces attributed to him on EBAY, ETSY and his own website- I wonder how one man could be so incredibly prolific? Or do the master carvers in Turkey do like Renaissance painters did in Europe, have a bunch of apprentices working in the same style, so a signed S.Yanik might be "the school of..." , done by an apprentice nephew and not necessarily from the hand of S. Yanik. Guess I was just flabbergasted to see so much work from one solitary man.
 
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Waning Embers

Captain of the Black Frigate
Nov 12, 2014
47,718
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Does anyone know, for instance, in the case of S. Yanik- there seem to be SO MANY intricate pieces attributed to him on EBAY, ETSY and his own website- I wonder how one man could be so incredibly prolific? Or do the master carvers in Turkey do like Renaissance painters did in Europe, have a bunch of apprentices working in the same style, so a signed S.Yanik might be "the school of..." , done by an apprentice nephew and not necessarily from the hand of S. Yanik.
He does it all himself. Though intricately carved, his drilling leaves a lot to be desired. I've purchased two of his pipes over the years, one arrived broken and neither would pass a pipe cleaner.
 
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Ulfson

Guest
Unrefined pure yellow wax instead of white. They whiten as they are smoked much like this Ali.
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That one was white when purchased.
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Wow! What a gorgeous transformation! Very cool to see pipe in hand when new and after use to compare. A wonderful material to become more beautiful with age and use. And the Ali octopus pipe- so the top pic is new? Hard to believe- a lovely pipe and in its current state a sensationally new and unexpected (for me) color! 😀
 
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