Moonlight Pipes Bent Volcano Handmade Briar Pipe, New

Description

While some pipe-makers take inspiration from the natural world, or from the technologies of present and past, few of them in the contemporary seek to represent these forms in their work. Czech artisan Ondrej Bárta of Moonlight pipes does just that, in a way that recalls the intricate, figural carvings of briar pipes from the turn of the 20th century. But Ondrej also departs from the figural approach of early briar pipes by combining it with high-grade materials and a careful attention to grain patterns that is far more modern.

Of all of the various design elements that are constantly being innovated or updated in pipe-making, one that has received far less attention than others is texture. Many pipe-makers pride themselves on improvements made to smooth and sandblasted finishing techniques, but far fewer explore new approaches to other finishes, such as rustication styles. This pipe from Ondrej’s Moonlight make has its own ideas regarding the broad latter category. It is a partially smooth finished volcano shape with an under-slung shank, but the shank and the base of the bowl are hand-carved with a sinewy patterning reminiscent of the fibers of tree bark. Comparisons may be drawn to Paul Larrysson Hubbart’s tree trunk pokers, though while Larrysson tended towards species such as the English oak for inspiration, Ondrej appears to have chosen something like a corkscrew willow or a coastal tea tree.

The smooth areas of the bowl are beautiful too, though, being covered in bird’s-eye briar patterns and a brown-sugar stain. The design is completed by a tasteful green ebonite stem and a cap at the base of the shank for easy cleaning.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.78 / 19.81mm

Bowl Depth: 1.56″ / 39.62mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 60g