NORTH DEMON
GREAT TANG PROSPERITY SERIES X
WRAPLESS EBONY EIGHT POINT
WITH SILVER AND COPPER
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I have sold approximately 20 North Demon cues, including several of his biggest cues. This is the biggest yet, more complex and beautiful than any previous ones I've had, and perhaps the biggest North Demon I've seen. It's a mammoth work of cue art.
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It's difficult to even describe this cue. Saying it's an eight point ebony cue with silver and copper inlay is a place to start, but that's only a starting point.
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To expand on this, I'll say that this stick has as much intricate inlay work in it as any cues I've ever seen ... anywhere. The "Spring Morning" cue by Cheng at North Demon, and his Sheng Tang series, are in the same category, but just a quick glance shows how much work went into this stick. The sheer volume of inlay, and work, that has been put into it is a wonder.
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The quality of Cheng's work has created considerable demand, resulting in a three year wait time for additional cues in this series. Each one is unique, and they can be ordered, but count on a three year wait. Finding one on the secondary market like this one is a rare thing.
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I can count the number of cuemakers in the world who are capable of this kind of work on one hand. Even attempting work at this level takes a level of commitment to the art that isn't often seen.
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The butt sleeve alone is an exquisite work of art. It is virtually filled to capacity with scrolling, flowing flowers, leaves and curls of fine silver and copper. He spared no effort.
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As you rotate the stick, the design changes, as you can see in the pictures below.
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In the forearm, he does something you seldom see in cues. He uses silver veneers both on the outside, and inside, of the colored wood veneers, all with bridged points. And if you take the time to study the pictures, you might notice that there are no seams or "joints" where various pieces of silver are joined together to create the veneers. That's because there are only two pieces of silver - one on the outside and one on the inside - two continuous pieces with only one joint in each, which you cannot find. Hardly anyone even attempts this kind of work, and nobody does it better.
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He builds it with an elegant white LBM handle made in three segments, all divided by even more ornate rings of more flowing and vibrant fine silver and copper. Each contains, flowers, leafs and curls.
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Each ring contains 80 separate inlays!
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One of the best things about showing cues online in pictures is that a cue almost always looks better in person. You have to see this cue in its totality to fully appreciate it.
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I love the way he uses a single red flower in the butt sleeve to complement the red veneers in the forearm. It's simple and subtle, and very elegant.
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One of the inlay patterns he uses extensively in the butt sleeve, he uses again just below the points.
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In each of the four long ebony points he inlays a long white LBM spears, and within each one a slightly smaller spear of copper.
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And of course, each white spear is veneered in fine silver.
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The silver veneered points are razor sharp, very even. The work is meticulous and exquisite.
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There are really no words to describe the quality of the work in the North Demon cues. In all of this work, in the hundreds of inlays, it's virtually impossible to find a glue line or a gap of any kind.
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As time-consuming and difficult as it is to build these rings, he uses them freely, nine times overall.
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He builds this cue with a white LBM joint and butt cap, with his North Demon logo engraved in the cap. It is made with a stainless steel radial pin and comes with two of his highly praised (and much in demand) very low deflection maple shafts, with ringwork to match the cue. The North Demon logo is engaved in the butt of each shaft.
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| It also comes with an ornate set of matching joint protectors with the North Demon logo. It weighs either 19.7 or 19.8 ounces depending on which shaft is used (16.1, 3.6, 3.7). How he keeps an ebony cue with this much silver and copper in it this light is a wonder. It is 58 inches long.
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Current wait time on this cue is at least three years. The original list price on this cue was just under $21,000. Each Prosperity series cue is slightly different, and a couple of them have recently re-sold for $28,000 in China. Although pre-owned, this one is still in new condition and has never been played, other than to test hit. It looks like it came out of the North Demon shop yesterday.
With shipping and custom charges included (which are significant), the price on this one is $23,750. (No credit cards or Paypal.)
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