Estate Pipes

About Barling Pipes: A Pocket Guide

September 16, 2022 by Davin Hylton

10 Comments

For years the Barling name has been synonymous with quality, vintage English pipes, renowned for their craftsmanship, engineering, and excellent smoking properties. Older Barlings produced during what is now referred to as the company's "Pre-Transition" era in particular are held in high esteem by many discerning collectors. ... Read More

Estate Pipes: Three Tales of Doom and Deliverance

January 7, 2022 by Chuck Stanion

6 Comments

Our intrepid staff know no limitations in their quest for the estate pipes that you love to see on our website, as demonstrated by three recent adventures from our files. ... Read More

Ben Rapaport: Tobacco Literature and Antique Pipe Expert

December 23, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

13 Comments

For 50 years, Ben Rapaport has contributed impressively to the literature of pipe smoking and has collected pipes since 1959. He's the author of nine books and countless articles, and a collector of antique pipes, as well as a purveyor of tobacco-related books and ephemera. He's also delivered a multitude of seminars, including for the opening of museums and at the Chicago pipe show. He's advised auction houses and museums around the world. When ... Read More

Pipe Smoker: Aaron Spelling

June 10, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

8 Comments

You probably recognize the name Aaron Spelling, especially if you lived through any part of the '70s, '80s, or '90s when the television shows that he produced dominated prime time. His shows included The Mod Squad (1968-'73), Charlie's Angels ('76-'81), The Love Boat ('77-'86), Hart to Hart ('79-'84), Dynasty ('81-'89), Beverly Hills 90210 ('90-2000), and Charmed ('98-2006). There were more; a lot more; a list of his shows contains more entries than there are lines in this article. ... Read More

Pipe Smoking Desktop Backgrounds: February 2021

February 1, 2021 by Andrew Wike

2 Comments

It's time for another round of beautiful pipe smoking desktop backgrounds! As in previous months, we've compiled some of our favorite shots and artwork to share with you. Below you'll find seven unique images, split between desktop and mobile orientations and available for download in ... Read More

Pipe Smoking Desktop Backgrounds: October 2020

October 1, 2020 by Andrew Wike

It's time for another round of beautiful pipe smoking desktop backgrounds! As in previous months, we've compiled some of our favorite shots and artwork to share with you. Below you'll find seven unique images, split between desktop and mobile orientations and available for download in two high-resolution ... Read More

Pipe Smoking Desktop Backgrounds: August 2020

July 30, 2020 by Andrew Wike

It's time for another round of beautiful pipe smoking desktop backgrounds! As in previous months, we've compiled some of our favorite shots and artwork to share with you. Below you'll find seven unique images, split between desktop and mobile orientations and available for download in two high-resolution ... Read More

Collecting Pipes As Souvenirs

April 22, 2020 by Truett Smith

9 Comments

The word "souvenir" is an English noun borrowed or, rather, inherited from French and its word for "memory" or "memento," a somewhat curious linguistic adoption since French and English find themselves on different branches on the linguistic family tree. We English speakers have William the Conqueror to thank for that. ... Read More

The Why and How of Estate Pipe Purchases

October 18, 2019 by Chuck Stanion

22 Comments

When I first learned about estate pipes, back when I didn't know a Billiard from a bathysphere, I was horrified. Used pipes? Pipes that had spent years in the mouths of who knows who smoking who knows what while cavorting with blatherskites from who knows where? Why would these pipes have any value? ... Read More

Estate Pipes: Perfect Enough

August 23, 2019 by Chuck Stanion

19 Comments

The building housing Smokingpipes is the size of a respectable big box store. There's a lot it has to fit: offices, warehousing, a gigantic walk-in cigar humidor, a kitchen large enough to accommodate 70-80 people, photo and video rooms, conference rooms, and a shipping department that's a visual extravaganza ... Read More