J Mouton Sandblasted Long Shank Egg w/ Whale Spine 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.

“Long shank” shapes, in the modern sense, have been popular since the advent of Scandinavian post-war pipe making, especially via the designs of the legendary Lars Ivarsson. On the other hand, certain shapes are more commonly given the “long shank” treatment than others, such as the Dublin, the acorn, and the apple. The egg is a more unusual choice, and in the case of this one from J. Mouton, makes for an especially distinctive piece. Part long shank in the Lars Ivarsson vein, and part bulbous tulip-like cutty, in a fashion closer to Sixten Ivarsson and, more recently, Tom Eltang, it’s a marvelous synthesis of styles, including a good measure of American heft. The finishing is quit exquisite, with Mouton managing to position the briar’s ring grain so it perfectly follows the contours of the bowl, while its sandy, orange stain is a perfect foil to set off the fossilized whale spine accent inlaid at the base of its mouthpiece.

Details:

Length: 6.3″ / 160.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.83 / 21.08mm

Bowl Depth: 2.06″ / 52.32mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 62g