We, (in this case our IK Meerschaum division) are proud to announce that we will be introducing our Greenman line of hand-carved Meerschaum Pipes at the Chicago Pipe Show. These pipes will celebrate these symbols of man's integration with nature in a 3 dimensional manner.

Greenmen are designs that, while commonly associated with northern Europe, can be found as design elements in architecture around the world. They generally feature a human face surrounded or integrating with natural symbols like wind, leaves, vines, snakes, etc. To learn more about the Greenman line of pipes and the history of the Greenman, you can visit http://GreenmanPipes.com/.

The Greenman line will include 5 different designs in two different grades of fine Meerschaum. The two grades include Deluxe and Specials; the latter being carved and signed by the famed Emin brothers from Turkey while the former will be carved by artists from IK Meerschaum's workshop in Eskisehir, Turkey.

The first of the five designs is the Greenman himself. This pipe is a figurehead with strong features surrounded by symbols of his power and unity with the world. One might think of him as "Father Nature".

The next design would be that of Lady Green. She would be "Mother Nature" of a softer kind, with delicate features surrounded by a spray of flowers woven in her gorgeous mane. This is another figurehead style pipe where her head, hair and flowers comprise the sizeable bowl.

The third design is a sitting pipe called Windy (or "Blow hard" if you are more irreverent). The name derives from the impression of him as the source of all wind, sending leaves flowing from his mouth and sweeping around the sides of his face (and the bowl).

The fourth design is of the Trickster. This mischievous face is rendered as a medallion on the front of a pipe bowl, perhaps making him more akin to the Greenmen as they are used as architectural accents. You might just find on some of these, that he is winking at you, perhaps sharing a joke on the sly.

Finally, we have Fritz. This is another medallion-style Greenman who could be considered the "Old Man of the Woods." His visage is surrounded by vines with snakes and other natural material woven throughout his coarse beard.

As mentioned before, the Special grade are being produced exclusively for IK Meerschaum by the Emin brothers. These world-famous carvers have been featured in publications like Pipes and Tobacco magazine numerous times. There are few carvers alive today who's ability to carve such accurate portrayals of the human face. Their talent and skill with women's faces are unsurpassed. These special signed pieces will surely become collectors items for those with an interest in fine Meerschaum pipes.

If you'd like to see examples of the unsigned, Deluxe grade of pipes, you'll find them at the bottom of the Greenman page on Tobacco Barn.

We will have available at the show limited quantities of these pipes but will be taking orders now for the next shipment of pipes expected summer of 2007. Any of our samples left over after the show will be up for sale at http://www.tobacco-barn.com or in our PipeTrader.com store (coming soon).