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All Tokutomi pipes are stamped H. Tokutomi, Japan and with
the year they were made.
Though most Tokutomi pipes do not bear a grade stamp beyond the above,
Tokutomi's best pieces are designated with a Snail or 'Hiro' stamp
(his initial in Kanji). Each grade (or lack thereof) generally designates a price band,
as follows:
Ungraded:
- Sandblast (no grade stamp): $395 - $725
- Smooth (no grade stamp): $595 - $1195
Graded
- Sandblast (with Snail stamp): $745+
- Smooth (with one Snail stamp): $1200-$1395
- Smooth (with two Snail stamps): $1400-$1595
- Smooth (with three Snail stamps): $1600-$1995
- Smooth (with 'Hiro' stamp): $2000+
There is occasional deviation and variance from these bands from time to time. This serves as a general guide, but not a rigid guide.
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