Micoli (Robert Burns) Rusticated Freehand Sitter Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

Of all the artisans to have come out of the first, great wave of American freehand carvers in the post-war decades, Robert “Micoli” Burns is by far one of the most unique—which is saying something, considering his close contemporaries are individuals such as Michael Kabik, Randy Wiley, and Joe Mariner. He also remains one of the most celebrated, which is equally impressive given the number of high-grade American artisans who have taken up the craft across the course of Burns’ long career.

Robert Burns’ background in the arts is something that is palpable in just about everything he makes. Whether his designs lean closer to classical pipe shapes and styles, or indeed in the case of this one, which leans toward functional sculpture, there is an artist’s touch that is plainly evident. In the case of this one, Burns’ unique rustication technique (applied using a Dremel rather than the more typical hand-pick) is on full display, turning what would otherwise be a slightly Danish freehand sitter into an unmistakably “Micoli” piece. There is certainly something of the Hallmark series by Preben Holm to it, but less in the sense of a shared style, and more in the sense of both being examples of letting one’s own style run free and unconstrained.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating. It comes with its original wooden presentation box and sleeve.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.78 / 19.81mm

Bowl Depth: 1.46″ / 37.08mm

Weight: 1.8oz / 52g