Randy Wiley 1999 Ovation H5 Grade Smooth Freehand Estate Briar Pipe, Unsmoked

Description

Beginning his career as a pipe maker in the 1970s, Randy Wiley was a key figure in the new wave of American artisans in the late-20th century pipe scene—and still is today, five decades later. In fact, though he does make some “traditional” pieces, he is, arguably America’s greatest living carver of “freehand” pipes, comparable to Denmark’s Preben Holm or Erik Nording in their prime. While Wiley has a diverse range of unique finishes in his portfolio, including several signature rustication styles, on his smooth pipes he is extremely adept at “chasing the grain,” creating smoking instruments that are often rugged in form, yet surprisingly elegant, owing in large part to the patterning of the briar he’s able to bring out in them.

In the case of this one, it’s a little more special than almost any other of Wiley’s pipes, whether rusticated or smooth. It is an example of Wiley’s “Ovation”-grade output, an aptly named, small set of pipes that represent the absolute pinnacle of his abilities as a pipe maker. Put simply, Ovations are the highest-grade pipes Randy Wiley makes, and they’re also very rare, making up a tiny fraction of the pipes Wiley makes in any given year. Coming back to the Preben Holm comparison, the Ovation can be thought of along the lines of Holm’s Private Collection and Nobel Prize series, both in quality and rarity. Furthermore, just like Holm’s Private Collection and Nobel Prize series, Wiley’s Ovation grade pipes are further subdivided into grade brackets that reflect their position in the hierarchy of Wiley’s masterworks. These brackets begin at “W1” and ascend numerically, ending at “W5.”

I mention this, of course, because this particular pipe, made in 1999, is an Ovation W5 grade, and as such represents the finest pipes Randy Wiley has ever produced, according to the man himself. It is a stunning pipe, to the point where I—despite being an admirer of Wiley’s work—was a little surprised when it came in. The grain is spectacular and flawless, having been kept perfectly smooth without any of Wiley’s hallmark spot carvings; the “extra touches,” like the mounted stem fitment and marbled accents on either side of it, are unusual and interesting; and the shaping is fantastic. On this last note, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that Wiley was once a carver of Edward’s pipes, an pipe shop that once aspired to be the “American Charatan.” While this pipe is recognizably a “freehand” in the Danish-American style, the bowl is very reminiscent of the famous Charatan “Cup and Saucer” shapes, to the point where I do wonder if those were part of the inspiration in this one’s design.

This pipe is completely unsmoked, with an original bowl coating.

Details:

Length: 7″ / 177.8mm

Bowl Width: 0.98 / 24.89mm

Bowl Depth: 2.28″ / 57.91mm

Weight: 2.8oz / 82g