Brandon Brooks Partially Sandblasted Dublin Handmade Briar Pipe, New

Description

Some pipe makers come to the craft from a background in carpentry. Some are former machinists. And a surprisingly large number of today’s greats in the North American artisan scene were once—or, indeed, still are—professional musicians. These include Jody Davis, Jack Howell, Steve Morrisette, Scott Thile, and, of course, Kentucky’s Brandon Brooks.

Among other things, Brooks has been a percussionist, music instructor, and drum builder since his graduation from the University of Kentucky in 1993, and, since 2007, he’s also been the man behind Brandon Brooks Pipes. Brooks draws on an eclectic mix of influences in the world of pipes, such as Italy’s Carlo Volpe, America’s Bruce Weaver, and the globetrotting Trever Talbert, and his work is further informed by his other employments. If you’ve encountered Brooks’ pipes, it is easy to see his work as a musical technician reflected in their precision and attention to detail; if you’ve encountered Brooks himself (especially alongside his pipes), it should come as no surprise that his résumé also includes several years working as a high-end tailor.

There is something distinctly Danish (or, more accurately, Scandinavian) about this Dublin from Kentucky’s Brandon Brooks. In fact, one can pinpoint a singular precedent, one that has evolved over subsequent decades into works such as this one in the contemporary: Sixten Ivarsson and, more specifically, a motif most popularly represented by his shape “20,” commissioned by Stanwell circa 1960. Most striking about the design is its maritime appearance (Ivarsson’s is occasionally referred to as a “boat” shape), with long and slightly narrowed, bow-like bowl and sharp, unbroken line running from the front of the rim to the end of the shank. Brooks’ rendition is, at the same time, very different from Ivarsson’s, or indeed from similar, contemporary approaches, such as those of Andrea Gigliucci. Adding a more lively color palette (“black and Tanshell,” one might say) Brooks’ shaping is comparatively softer, pulling closer to the more traditional proportions of the Dublin shape, while also incorporating a teardrop shank capped with a smooth briar accent.

All Brandon Brooks pipes come with a leather sleeve made by the Kraken Leather Company, as well as one of Brooks’ signature, “drumstick” tampers.

 

Details:

Length: 5.72″ / 145.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.71 / 18.03mm

Bowl Depth: 1.20″ / 30.48mm

Weight: 2.2oz / 64g