J Mouton Partially Rusticated Apple w/ Horn Handmade Briar Pipe, New

Description

Born and raised in the small town of Gueydan, Louisana, Jason Mouton’s rise in the ranks of American pipe makers has been nothing less than meteoric—and for good reason. Having crafted duck calls since he was a teenager, Mouton’s first forays into pipe making began with carving tampers. Mouton’s unexpected and substantial successes with these handmade tampers encouraged and allowed him to purchase the equipment needed to create pipes themselves. Studying the works of renowned American artisans such as J. Alan, Grant Batson, and Jared Coles, Mouton gradually developed his own pipe making craft, which was furthered by his exchanges with Greek artisan Chris Asteriou. Today, Mouton’s works are some of the most sought after on the artisan market, a demand which he has responded to—and not unlike his beginnings in carving tampers—by reinvesting his successes into an unwavering advancement of his skills and technique.

For a while in the 21st century, rustication appeared to be a lost art in the community of high-grade artisan pipes. There were a few exceptions, of course, especially in the school of pipe makers associated with Mike Butera, but they were exceptions nonetheless, rather than the rule. More recently, a variety of rustication styles have arisen, or been reborn, in artisan circles, proving once again that such finishes are not simply what one does to uncooperative briar. This pipe from Louisiana’s J. Mouton provides further proof against the latter’s assumptions, turning a plump Danish apple (very much in the vein of Former or Jess Chonowitsch) into something fresh and distinctive. Especially impressive is the reddish tint that Mouton’s managed to layer into the bowl’s otherwise near-black staining, something I haven’t seen done quite as well since Les and Dolly from Ferndown retired.

Details:

Length: 4.8″ / 121.9mm

Bowl Width: 0.72 / 18.28mm

Bowl Depth: 1.31″ / 33.27mm

Weight: 1.3oz / 38g