Dressed in khaki, silver stars glittering on his open collar, chewing on a meerschaum pipe, he ambled to the center of the stage with a sheaf of notes clutched in his hand.

NEWYORKER: Rat Beach

Pipe collector Charles Strom loves his little mermaid cheroot holder, created by legendary meerschaum carver Gustave Fischer in the early 20th century.

FORBES: Where There's Smoke, There Are Buyers