How expensvie can a smoking pipe get? Turns out it’s a lot!
Recently, Business Insider profiled a New York-based curator known only as Mr. Grey — and no, not the one from 50 Shades. At just 21 years old, he’s helping usher in a new era of high-end cannabis glass art, collecting and showcasing pipes and bongs that are handcrafted, functional, and jaw-droppingly expensive.
In fact, some of the pieces he showcased in his Manhattan apartment are priced as high as $300,000. These aren't your everyday smoking devices — they're detailed sculptures created by master glassblowers from around the world.
Some resemble cacti, swords, donuts, and soda cups more than traditional pipes, blurring the line between art and utility.
With cannabis legalization spreading across the U.S., talented glass artists are exploring new creative territory. Demand is rising for unique, collectible pieces, and prices are following suit. Where a few years ago most pipes topped out at $5,000, now many works sell for tens of thousands — and some are pushing six figures.
Mr. Grey sees these pieces not just as functional tools but as investment-grade artwork. And while the audience today skews younger and male, he believes it's only a matter of time before traditional art collectors begin to recognize the cultural and artistic value of high-end glass.
Bottom line: If you thought spending a few hundred dollars on a nice pipe was extravagant, you haven’t seen anything yet.
MEET THE TEMPEST
While most of us aren’t dropping six figures on a pipe, good design doesn’t have to break the bank. The Tempest is our take on the modern dry pipe: all metal, magnetically sealed, and built to last. It’s functional art you can actually use every day.
