Fikri Baki XL Smooth Whale Estate Block Meerschaum Pipe, Turkish Estates

Description

Unlike their counterparts in the world of briar, the artisans who carve meerschaum pipes are seldom known by name. Only a very small percentage of such carvers rise to a level of mastery and recognition that leads to their pipes being explicitly attributed to them. At any given outlet, you might find a pipe signed or tied to someone like Bekler, Tekin, Kenan, or Sabri, but most will simply carry the company brand, in a manner closer to factory pipe manufacture and sales.

Fikri Baki Cetekinkaya, known simply as Fikri Baki, or F. Baki, first began carving meerschaum pipes in 1969 and is today known as one of the all-time greats in his field. This is not just for his ability to carve meerschaum, but also his pioneering skills in applying techniques and materials used in briar pipes to his meerschaums. This included not just silverware, but also bamboo and ebonite, which he hand-cut for his pipes. Baki also spent time studying pipe making with the legendary German artisan Rainer Barbi (the latter being best known for his briars, but who also dabbled in meerschaum). In recent times, in part due to exclusivity arrangements, Baki pipes have become increasingly difficult to acquire in the West, much to the chagrin of his many admirers.

This particular Baki is a very beautiful, very large, and very distinctive, pipe. I’ve elected to call it a “whale,” not in the sense of Tokutomi, but rather in the “whale” shapes of Rolando Negoita. I do wonder whether that might have been the inspiration—Baki is, after all, someone very familiar with high grade briars, as well as meerschaums.

The condition is very good. The chamber has been over-reamed slightly and there is a small scratch on the right side of the bowl.

Details:

Length: 6.4″ / 162.5mm

Bowl Width: 0.89 / 22.60mm

Bowl Depth: 1.52″ / 38.60mm

Weight: 2.8oz / 82g