November 26th saw the 10th Anniversary of PipeVillage. Active members worldwide gathered in Shanghai joining the celebration party, held at Park Tavern, a nice local Irish destination, chartered.

At 9:15 a.m., members poured in, wearing a quite innovative ID sticker printed on-site, identifying their respective forum ID, ID group, and task-force details if applicable.

They were having great fun chatting, smoking, sharing, and many of the members met old friends interacting daily for years, for the very first time, which was a pleasantly strange feeling.

Seminars on Pipe Making, hosted by Chinese leading pipe maker Renbin and Zhoujun, and Blowfish & Crossgrain, a linear handcraft history workshop, given by 'Pippy', were carried out consecutively at the second floor dedicated.

'Miaozhai', who owns one of the most coveted and fruitful collections on antique English pipes in the world, such as pre-transitional Barlings, Comoy's Family Era Blue Ribands, Dunhills (1915 ~ 1975), Sasienies, etc., showed his more than 100 best selections, all in unsmoked or ultra-prestine conditions (renovated all by himself with conservationist principle being the utmost priority), on the venue. Architect Xu 'Pipe-Loving-Maggot', another enthusiastic senior member, showed his better Scandinavian pipes by Lars, S.Bang, Eltang, etc.. 

Members contributed vintage tobaccos for sharing with each other. And 8 Deco, a renowned smoking accessory brand in China, sponsored a sumptuous amount of its products giving out to participants. 

Not until early evening, this very compact and intriguing event were called to an end and success, leaving every one to savor for many years to come.

The entire event was fully member-supported. 

Members checking in. 'Iron Buddha', a seasoned architect (left) & 'Blue Blade' (a chemical specialist from Spain, on laptop) were in charge of the registration part, which was crucial to the event's success. The one writing for entrance, was 'Timwang', an avid member who's also very knowledgeable on knives.

Members automatically found a way to entertain themselves immediately

Famous & respected collector 'Mouse' (center) from Xiamen

Senior surgeon Dr. Li (in yellow jacket) flew from New York, U.S. just for the event. He's truly amazing!

Doctor Li has a passion for gourd calabash

'Olo' generously gifted a tailor-made 'Qinghua' china bowl, to Dr.Li

Beijing Pipe Maker Zhoujun & his beautiful fiancee

Tianjin pipe maker Renbin, considered by many the best in China

'Miaozhai', a young but top traditional Chinese porcelain painter artist in the world

Members

'Shoe Lifter' (left), a senior D.E.A. officer volunteered as cameraman of the event & Wilfred 'Wolf' Feng (right), a chief consultant on biotech & government relation (reads: 'two China farmers' to Neill Roan from West Virginia, whom nowadays does stand for holy Purity, Sobriety and the White Christian's Jesus, though doesn't love Warren any more. This world is a sad irony: while Neill's busy anti-Chinese and sucking the Danes' dicks, the Danes are the other way around busy visiting China ... twice a year)

Friends from afar

Accomplished art critic Huang, aka 'WMDHZ' (left), and Lee, a local tobacconist (right)

I'm sure the topic was very much ... erh ... non-pipe ...

Props of the Pipe Making Seminar

How to make a good pipe by hand? These two gents had ample answers

Seminar on going

Captive audience

'Sharing Table', working with 'Sharing Coupons', was another pretty novel idea I devised for this event. Everything, including seminar admission, was 'purchased' only with 'Sharing Coupons', allotted as per various ID group privileges

See what we shared

Murray 965 went fast!

Buffet began to serve

Pub Manager James Prowse from Oxford, was lodging draft Pedigree fresh from England. Both are my all-time favorites

Delicious lamb chop. Looks yummy erh?

Members

Not smoking was not allowed here

Smoked in peace

'Dionysus' from Beijing, came with sealed Balkan Sobranie tin & Dunhill old goodies. A wonderful guy!

Versatile Shanghai collector 'Heart-rinsing' (left), Leslie Ng (center) & 'Miaozhai' (right)

'Miaozhai' unpacking his treasures

'Miaozhai' unpacking his treasures

Old English pipes being arranged

A valuable pile indeed

Old soldiers never die, nor do they fade away

The crowd sniffed something big and unusual

Those who came with a camera or a phone, were busy taking photos

'Miaozhai' talked about his experience collecting and renovating

A rusticated (and blasted?) Sasieni '4-Dot'

This unsmoked 'Pre-tran' Barling with elaborate silver work, was one of the masterpieces of Miaozhai's. He spent a fortune for it

A Sasieni '4-Dot' Canadian, and a Comoy's I guess

A Comoy's Oop Paul

Some Scandinavian finer examples owned by Xu 'Pipe-Loving-Maggot', except the one at center, a gorgeous Bang interpretation of Crossgrain made by Per, was collection of mine

'Miaozhai' (left) & 'Pipe-Loving-Maggot' (right)

Seminar Blowfish & Crossgrain, given by 'Pippy'

'Focus Group', literally speaking

Audience

We always tried to include everyone ...

Untitled

Collective shot of the event