people just dont get it!

[gargoylepete]

Greetings brothers and sisters of Rumph nation.I just wanted to share a little story with you about a dealing i had that just pisses me off the more i think about it.I came across this old man that has a cobra and priestess pipe that he was looking to sell.He has had it for over 10 years up on a shelf and thought it was a vase and loved it.Someone informed him of what it really is and now is insistant of destroying it.Apperently some people convinced him that it was illeagal to have these,even though it hasnt been used and doesnt have the stem and bowl.Ive been trying to convince him for a week that it isnt.His solution is that he is going to fill it up with plaster and keep it back on his shelf.As an avid collector,ignorance like this kills me.Has anyone else had to deal with similar stuff like this when trying to add pipes to their collections.I would appreciate any comments or stories from all of you.By the way,i have some pieces for sale.Email me for a list at [e-mail]

[Rumphnut]

You might try and tell him that there is collector exceptions to the parahenella laws. i checked it in my state and the laws read that if you have to be old and obvouily not promoting there intented use. In fact you could argue that by filling them with plaster they would no longer be collector items and would be subject to prosecution! Or just tell him to give them to you for trade. It's a shame though,
Thanks pete

[rumphus]

Pete,

I contacted this guy as well. I had put an early bid on it and was waiting to get in a 'war' in the lat 15 minutes or so of the auction.

He told me he was just going to destroy the piece. I tried to explain to him that it would be considered a valuable piece of American pottery in that Jim was one of the more popular and interesting artists in the 70's and 80's.

He wouldn't even reply to my e-mail.

it is truly unfortunate to lose one of these pieces to ignorance and paranoia.