Dave Neeb Large Smooth Dublin Estate Briar Pipe, American Estates

Description

Dave Neeb spent the first part of his life as an attorney. Upon retiring, however, he turned his hand to an altogether different vocation: pipes. First, Neeb was a pipe seller; he then learned the art of pipe restoration; finally, under the tutelage of Lee Von Erck and Rad Davis, he took up making artisan pipes himself. This continued for many years, with Neeb’s restoration of high-grade pipes being practiced side by side with the crafting of his own – pipes that deservedly amassed a cult following. Eventually, Neeb retired from pipe restoration and sales, but his pipe-making endeavors are, to the relief of many a smoker, not over yet.

There’s always been something about Dave Neeb’s work that struck me as a little Italian. A lot of Neeb’s work has a similar thing going to Mike Butera, who famously trained in Italy, with the result being, in both cases, with the results being something akin to an American Castello. This Dublin from Neeb is reminiscent of the shaping and grain of Castello’s Great Line freehands, for example, and even includes a nice, unconventional inlay (it looks almost like kimberlite) in its tortoiseshell acrylic stem.

The condition is good. Some inner rim darkening and some scratches around the bowl.

 

Details:

Length: 6.5″ / 165.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.94 / 23.87mm

Bowl Depth: 1.68″ / 42.67mm

Weight: 1.7oz / 50g