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

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.

The majority of Robert Burns’ Micoli pipes are distinguished by their deep and highly unorthodox rustication, which Burns famously applies using a Dremel. It is very rare, therefore, to come across a pipe that has been left unscathed by Burns’ favorite tool. In the case of this Micoli, the only part of the pipe that has been rusticated is the base of the stem (something Burns is also quite unique in his approach to). On the other hand, I can see why this extra large, fanning, sitter rendition was left all but smooth, given that it does exhibit extraordinary straight grain, which Burns has followed in crafting the geyser-like form we see here.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original (slightly flaked) bowl coating. It also comes with its original presentation box. A couple of small nicks on the bowl, though nothing major.

Details:

Length: 7.3″ / 185.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.75 / 19.05mm

Bowl Depth: 1.87″ /47.49mm

Weight: 2.9oz /84g