Hi everyone,
I'm hoping to get some opinions and maybe a little education from those of you who know a lot more about custom cues than I do.
I commissioned this cue butt from a woodworker in Morocco. This cue wasn't made by one of the established American cue makers. It was built by a craftsman whose specialty is incredibly intricate hand inlay. Every decorative element is cut and installed by hand. There is no CNC engraving or laser work involved.
The cue is made from Turkish Walnut with Thula Root, mother of pearl, aluminum inlays, and hand-inlaid paint work (the light beige sections). One of the things that first caught my attention was how nearly every inch of the cue has intentional work, yet it still doesn't look cluttered. I also love the use of aluminum. It outlines much of the pearl and wood inlay and gives those sections a look that's difficult to capture in photographs. I also requested the four Amazigh (Berber) "Free Man" symbols incorporated into the design near the top and bottom of the cue.
I've shown it to several custom cue makers, repair guys, and some very knowledgeable cue people locally. No one seems to have seen anything quite like this.
Not necessarily because it's the "best cue ever made," but because of the sheer amount of hand inlay work, the time that must have gone into it, and the quality of that work. It definitely seems to turn heads, but I'd really like to hear from a broader audience.
After I received it, I had it professionally finished, fitted with a joint (Viking quick-connect), and a weight bolt system installed. The cue rolls straight together and apart, and several strong players, including a couple of pros, have commented that it plays surprisingly well.
So I'm curious:
- Has anyone seen another cue with this style or level of hand inlay work?
- Does this resemble the work of anyone else, or is it fairly unique?
- If something like this were to be offered for sale, how would you go about valuing it?
- Is there a market for cues like this, or is it simply too different from what's traditionally collected?
Depending on the feedback, I may have the opportunity to commission additional cues from the same craftsman, even custom designed ones. Before I go down that road, I'd like to better understand whether there's genuine interest in something this different.
I'd really appreciate any thoughts, opinions, or advice. Thanks in advance.
