Has anyone seen cue work like this before?

there was a million of those kind of looking cues decades back. like the 4 piece ones that were made overseas somewhere and complete junk for a player to use..
i have one but never see some little kid in the pool room to give it to.
 
Chopdoc said:
Resembles some of the old marquetry cues.

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Yes the clear influence is from these marquetry style cues - France and Morocco go way back and the influence is very obvious in the poster's cue.
 
Highmiles said:
I’m sorry, but when I first saw it, I immediately thought of one of the 4 piece “hand carved” cues. It just looks cheap and poor quality.
No offense.
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Would love one of those $9.00 4 piece jobs. I'd send it to Proficient Billiards for a refinish and convert to bumperless.
 
PYITE said:
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.
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That sure is a lot. I mean, if I were vacationing in Morocco and saw it at a tourist shop I might buy it if I had loved my experience there. It's not precise to the level that is expected in a custom cue. It's more of a souvenir than a precise playing instrument. If I had the money to travel internationally I might buy it for $500, but I don't and I wouldn't in reality.

If my grandpa had made it with limited tooling I would love it to the point it would be priceless, but as for something I would buy from someone I didn't know or anything, it would have to be 100 bucks at a garage sale type purchase. It's neat for sure, a good conversation piece, but it lacks precision.
 
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