Herriot Pipes Smooth Brass Spigot Billiard Handmade Briar Pipe, New

Description

In 2003, one of France’s preeminent pipe luminaries, Erwin Van Hove, jubilantly proclaimed, “Hallelujah! One of the very best American artisans has recently settled on French soil.” Two decades later, Antoine Grenard, director of Chapuis-Comoy and president of the Confrérie des Maîtres-Pipiers de Saint-Claude, oversaw the induction of another artisan originally from the Anglophone world into its hallowed brotherhood. Van Hove was, of course, welcoming Trever Talbert. The Confrérie, on the other hand, was welcoming Chris Herriot. Parallels between the two are difficult to ignore; both were outsiders who laid down roots in France and, crucially, thrived by it. Both forged connections with the Francophone pipe community, developing friendships and associations that would help them lay the foundations of their respective brands. And both would build something on these foundations that garnered them significant national and international acclaim. In Herriot’s case, this meant apprenticing under Bruno Nuttens (himself a former student of Pierre Morel and Tom Eltang), spending several days each week laboring in Nuttens’ Charpey workshop, and the rest of his time in his own.

There are many talented artisans who lean toward the classic designs of Anglo-French pipe making. But there are few who take this fidelity to tradition so far as to move beyond the realm of briar and ebonite. After all, one of the defining features of the great Anglo-French makes was their incorporation of metal accents into their designs. Nickel, copper, silver, gold, and indeed brass mounts have long been utilized to elevate pipes above the crowd, and arguably the most distinguished type of mount is the spigot fitment. This golden contrast, brass spigot mounted billiard from Chris Herriot is the first I’ve seen from the English-born maîtres-pipier and, in addition to being a very beautiful piece, it is a true testament to his commitment to the craft. I look forward to seeing more down the line.

Details:

Length: 5.6″ / 142.2mm

Bowl Width: 0.72 / 18.28mm

Bowl Depth: 1.60″ / 40.64mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 40g