Konstantin Shekita XL Sandblasted Lumberman Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

Konstantin Shekita is a Ukrainian artisan pipe maker—and, in fact, one of the first of his kind in Ukraine. In his life, Shekita has been a soldier, a sportsman, and a stuntman, but his work with pipes first began in the 1990s, in Ukraine’s Golden Gate pipe factory. There, Shekita learned to make machine-made pipes; in the 2000s, he began to create handmade, artisan pipes under his own name.

After winning prizes in both pipe making and pipe (slow) smoking in Eastern Europe, Shekita began achieving wider international renown, first in Europe, and then in the United States. Though he produces around 200 pipes per year, his output is strikingly diverse. He is seasoned in the “Danish” style set forth by figures such as Jess Chonowitsch,, Jens Tao Nielsen, or Former; he can craft a wholly unique freeform that makes briar seem as soft as putty; he will sometimes incorporate intricate lattice carvings into his designs that would make a Turkish meerschaum carver blush; and, as shown by this pipe, he is also a master of the more “traditional” staples of pipe making. The latter were, of course, his bread a butter at the Golden Gate factory, but it was a humble billiard with which Shekita won his first pipe carving competition after going solo. Here we find Shekita having crafted an exceptionally long rendition of the classic lumberman, though with a distinct touch to it. In addition to being longer than usual, it features a prominent, egg-like bowl, which Shekita has used as a means to further emphasize the ring grain that lines it. It’s a subtle touch, but one that makes a world of difference.

This pipe is completely unsmoked. It comes with its original sleeve.

Details:

Length: 6.8″ / 172.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.79 / 20.06mm

Bowl Depth: 1.89″ / 48.00mm

Weight: 1.5oz / 44g