Timberwolf, thank you.
I haven't posted pictures of my small chest of drwaers anywhere..but I believe others also have proposed the small chest of drawers as an excellent way to display and protect pipe collections.
Unless one enjoys the dusting tasks, pipes sitting in open racks do collect dust and exposure to air and sunlight require additional maintenance to keeps one's pipes in good order-appearance.If one has grandchildren he need also be watchful that small inquisitive eyes and hands do not go where they shouldn't..not to mention those with curious cats and active dogs with wagging tails..
I am an avid wood worker of many years and so the small chest of drawers I designed and made came out very nicely.Hardwood , inlays, burl and birdseye veeered drawer fronts..as good as ever made by vintage cabinetmakers probably.A bit 19th century in style and appearance, which fits me as well as many of the older pipes I enjoy so much.
For those not equipped or so inclined, a patient search of second hand stores and junk shops( antique shops) can often yield discoveries of very fine furniture of this sort which with a bit of TLC can be placed into new service for the pipe smoker-collector.
Craig's List, E Bay, consignment shops both online or off, Goodwill, Salvation Army etc..Estete sales in uposcale neighborhoods.
On line searching using key words such as lingerie chest or jewelry chest of drawers can help zero in on new or used-antique chests suitable in dimension and style.(and price)
Some of the jewelry chests still being made are quite nice, tho quality new is expensive.
A good starting place is to lay out your pipes and decide how much depth bottom to top of drawer he needs for the drawers..as well as back to front width and depth.Some folks have chosen to smoke and collect a certain style of pipe along conventional billiard, bulldog, poker shape-size while others may be more expansive-diverse in their choices or their making of pipes.
Have some minimum and maximum dimensional requirements.
The space you have in your den or 'room' may help dictate the size of the chest-cabinet.Who knows? One could end up with a psir of very nice, lower 'end-lamp' tables with three or four drawers each..OR a smasll, 6' tall cornor curio cabinet which is lighted, has a door and perhaps multiple shelves added??Be creative..
You must decide IF your collection will grow from it's present size and how much( do we ever forsee the depth of this passion..
? and plan on making or procuring a chest that has some growing room..
For those designing and making their own, the chest of drawers can be quite utilitarian and made from the least expensive materials which are stained or painted ..much like one would house small hand tools, fishing lures or firearms cleaning items...or it can be a piece of fine woodworkers art-craft suitable for display in the poshest decor....or in between..
One nice feature of the pipe chest of drawers is that the pipe sleeve, hard case or original box can be kept-displayed along with the pipe.
How many time have we seen nice vintage meerschaum pipes whose hard case long ago was separated from the pipe it was made to protect and house?
As a note, the pipes one smokes are allowed to air out and dry after cleaning before placing them back in their spot in the drawer.
The top of the chest with a stand or two of wood, brass etc can be used for this, esp for the briars.
One can design a chest that has a deeper drawer if he wishes for storage of tobacco, cleaning supplies & tools, chunks of briar awaiting work, stems etc if he wishes.
Presently, I don't have an on line picture repository at this time from which to draw pictures to post here...I may need to do that.
In the meantime, if you send me a PM I can give you my e mail address and from there, take some pictures of my own pipe chest of drawers to send you.Jim
