Dave Neeb & Marty Schreiter Abstract Brandy Handmade Briar Pipe, New

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.

This pipe is a rather unique one in Dave Neeb’s portfolio, and indeed among pipes more generally. While the shaping is a relatively traditional Anglo-French brandy, the finishing is not the traditional assortment of dyes and oils. Rather, not unlike the urushi pipes of Japan, the exterior of the bowl has been used as a canvas for another form of art: painting. For this pipe, Neeb teamed up with Wisconsin fine artist Marty Schreiter and, after the two spent time researching and experimenting with heat-resistant compounds, created this wonderful synthesis of old-world craft and modernist brushwork.

Details:

Length: 5.2″ / 132.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.75 / 19.05mm

Bowl Depth: 1.41″ / 35.81mm

Weight: 1.1oz / 32g