WGM XL Smooth Rhodesian w/ Silver Estate Block Meerschaum Pipe, Turkish Estates

Description

WGM Meerschaum was a line of meerschaum pipes created by Mustafa Albayrak, who also headed the esteemed IMP Meerschaum brand. The project was as much a creative endeavor as it was a technical one: Albayrak used high-grade meerschaum to carve interesting shapes, while also employing push-fit tenons cut from Delrin to bring the standard of meerschaum fitments closer to that of a briar pipe.

This one is remarkable when it comes to shaping, leaning heavily into the bulldog shapes of post-war Denmark. One can see a little bit of Emil Chonowitsch, as well as his son Jess Chonowitsch in the design, as well as some Sixten Ivarsson, as seen in the early shape 34 he created for Stanwell. Whether or not Albayrak was directly influenced by such pipes when carving this one is not something I can say for certain, though as an admirer of Danish bulldogs, this one gets a thumbs up from me either way.

The condition is fair. Some rim darkening and a few superficial scratches on the bowl.

Details:

Length: 6.5″ / 165.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.95 / 24.13mm

Bowl Depth: 1.82″ / 46.22mm

Weight: 2.2oz / 64g