Translucent Meerschaum?

[TN Jed]

This is a stunning example of a Van Cleef, I absolutely love the way the meerschaum is freckling!

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Michael - this pipe is coloring just wonderfully. The 'translucent' term seems to be a modern vernacular, I don't ever remember calling these as such. Either way, this is a gorgeous example of a 'translucent' meer!

Thanks Eddie! It smokes effortlessly.

 

[TN Jed]

Whoops wrong thread

 

[gervais]

@gervais Sorry about the delayed response. I lost count around 50 smokes. Somewhere around 70 smokes and smoking great with very little cleaning.View attachment 237937View attachment 237939View attachment 237940View attachment 237941

Stunning! Absolutely beautiful

 

[Jon C.P.G.]

Whoops wrong thread

Any updates on this?

 

[UB 40]

They sell these relatively inexpensive stripped down models with just the carbon fiber inserts stuck into a bowl, but the look just doesn't appeal to me:

I like it. A classical shape. A Duke in black and white.

 

[LotusEater]

I like it. A classical shape. A Duke in black and white.

I’ve been on the fence about these carbon fiber meers but I finally bought one last night. Mine is clearly not translucent

 

[TN Jed]

Here's a pic from my current smoke @Jon C.P.G. . I have totally lost count but the coloring has slowed way down.

 

[Jon C.P.G.]

Here's a pic from my current smoke @Jon C.P.G. . I have totally lost count but the coloring has slowed way down.
View attachment 315997

Smoke it 3 times a day for a month see what happens

 

[jonasclark]

Here's a pic from my current smoke @Jon C.P.G. . I have totally lost count but the coloring has slowed way down.
View attachment 315997

I have a translucent meerschaum spigot I haven't yet smoked, bought at Iwan Ries. I thought it was beautiful. It pales in comparison to this one!

 

[TN Jed]

I have a translucent meerschaum spigot I haven't yet smoked, bought at Iwan Ries. I thought it was beautiful. It pales in comparison to this one!

Thank you!

 

[jonasclark]

Thank you!

Wish I knew where I could get one exactly like yours, wanna trade? (I promise I'm kidding) Here's mine. I haven't smoked it. Black stem, octagonal panel form but with uneven panels. Signed "Ali" in letters carved so neatly that they look embossed! The spots on the top were dust.

 

[Chasing Embers]

Wish I knew where I could get one exactly like yours, wanna trade? (I promise I'm kidding) Here's mine. I haven't smoked it. Black stem, octagonal panel form but with uneven panels. Signed "Ali" in letters carved so neatly that they look embossed! The spots on the top were dust.

Ali is one of my favorite carver, he did an octopus for me last yesr. I think yours is probably the best looking spigot meerschaum I've ever seen.

 

[TN Jed]

Wish I knew where I could get one exactly like yours, wanna trade? (I promise I'm kidding) Here's mine. I haven't smoked it. Black stem, octagonal panel form but with uneven panels. Signed "Ali" in letters carved so neatly that they look embossed! The spots on the top were dust.

She's a beauty!

 

[Tbaggins]

Thoughts on this IMP? Thinking it’s translucent but not sure. @cshubrha

 

[TakeThisCobAndStuffIt]

It looks like it to me...

 

[Jon C.P.G.]

Thoughts on this IMP? Thinking it’s translucent but not sure. @cshubrhaView attachment 328510View attachment 328511View attachment 328513

Looks like it man nice grab

 

[AroEnglish]

Thoughts on this IMP? Thinking it’s translucent but not sure. @cshubrhaView attachment 328510View attachment 328511View attachment 328513

Definitely not. Sell it ASAP!

 

[Tbaggins]

Looks like it man nice grab

Got really lucky. Had no clue what a translucent was when I bought it!

 

[AroEnglish]

Can anyone name carvers who do translucent meers besides Altinay? I'd love to get an Altinay but it's out of my range.

 

[brian64]

Can anyone name carvers who do translucent meers besides Altinay? I'd love to get an Altinay but it's out of my range.

To the best of my knowledge, Altinay is the only one that identifies the pipes that are made from "translucent" blocks (I believe they coined that term). At least I've never seen any other seller display the distinction. You may find one elsewhere, but it's difficult to tell from a pic whether it's that type of block.

More recently I noticed Altinay also started grading the translucent blocks as A, AA or AAA. Some kind of quality distinction, but not sure exactly what it represents.