Qi Studio Contrast Sandblasted Apple Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

Qi Studio is one of a number of higher-end Chinese artisan workshops that have emerged over the last decade and, not unlike the GH. Zhang workshop overseen by Guo Hui Zhang and Ping Zhan, Qi Studio has strong connections to world-class pipe makers outside of Chinese, such as those of Denmark. The eponymous Mr Qi is a pipe maker who has spent the last decade studying and collaborating with some of the living greats of Danish pipe making, including Anne Julie, Lars Ivarsson, Kurt Balleby, and Hans “Former” Nielsen. In the case of Former, Qi Studio played an integral role in realizing his 60th Annniversary pipe series and, in turn, Former has designed pipes for the Qi Studio make.

The Qi Studio pipes we’ve received, which includes this one, appear to be Qi’s own design. I was a little reminded of Vladimir Grechukhin and his PS Studio, not just because of the similarities in the name adopted, but also because of their shaping and finishing. Of the Qi Studio pipes I’ve seen thus far, they’ve all been relatively compact, but not without a distinctive, Scandinavian plumpness. They’ve all also been beautifully finished, with crisp sandblasting, a good use of accents, and well-matched color palettes.

The Qi Studio pipes we’ve had in most recently have been new old stock, with this pipe being among them. It is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating, and also comes with its original sleeve.
 

Details:

Length: 4.9″ / 124.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.78 / 19.81mm

Bowl Depth: 1.23″ / 31.24mm

Weight: 1.8oz / 52g