Ed Burak Connoisseur Smooth Bell Calabash Estate Briar Pipe, American Estates

Description

Known as the “dean of American pipe designers” Ed Burak was not a pipe-maker per se. Rather, Burak was someone who worked with the master carvers of his time to bring his distinct ideas of what a pipe could be to life. As the owner of the Connoisseur Pipe Shop, Burak designed freehand pipes so singularly representative of pipe-making as an artistic endeavor, that many of the resulting works ended up in New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

While Ed Burak’s designs covered a vast range of shapes and styles, two defining characteristics dominated his portfolio. One was large, tall bowls—often based on traditional Anglo-French shapes with exaggerated proportions—and the other was the steep curvatures they embodied—again, playing on exaggerated figures from briar staples. As a result, many of his designs were highly evocative of musical instruments, especially wind instruments. But one instrument in particular that Burak drew inspiration from was the bell. The “Bell” would become a signature in shape and name for Burak, and many a Burak Bell was carved over the decades. This one incorporates a swan-neck shank and stem alongside its titular bowl, resulting in something that—if you’ll excuse the pun—might be referred to as a “Bell-C.”

The condition is very good. Minor inner rim darkening and a couple of very slight bowl scratches.

Details:

Length: 6.3″ / 160.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.89 / 22.60mm

Bowl Depth: 1.89″ / 48.00mm

Weight: 1.9oz / 54g