Ismail Baglan Magnum Castle Keep Estate Block Meerschaum Pipe, Turkish Estates

In the world of meerschaum, even more so than the world of briar, having one’s name put on one’s works is a privilege granted to very few carvers. Only those who have risen through the ranks of Turkey’s many meerschaum workshops and proved themselves as among the very best in the craft are granted that right, which typically takes form of a quite literal “signing” of the pipe itself. For every Baki, Kenan, Sabri, or Tekin, there are hundreds of craftsmen who will remain anonymous to those who enjoy their work. Ismail Baglan was born into a family of meerschaum carvers in Eskişehir, Türkiye’s meerschaum carving capital, so it was only natural that he too would join the craft. His early years were spent learning from his brother, Kemal Baglan, and in the decades that followed he would become acclaimed for his mastery of the medium. Here we find Ismail Baglan’s mastery on full display, and by way of very unique design, no less. While meerschaum pipes frequently take the form of busts of famous figures, mythological creatures, or animal scenes, this one is a fittingly magnum-sized rendering of a castle keep, with its stone architecture reproduced in minute detail. Unsurprisingly, the pipe also comes with a custom-fitted presentation case, so that Baglan’s castle is kept safe from the ravages of time that have so often befallen its real-life counterparts. The condition is good. Some rim darkening and stem slightly un-flush, though the latter is quite typical of the tenons used for pipes like this one and should not be a issue as far as use is concerned.   Details: Length: 9.5″ / 241.3mm Bowl Width: 0.78 / 19.81mm Bowl Depth: 2.51″ / 63.75mm Weight: 8.0oz / 228g