Randy Wiley 2000 XL Rusticated Freehand Estate Briar Pipe, American Estates

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. 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. And, like Holm and Nording, Wiley has an array of signature finishes at his disposal, resulting in designs that occasionally border on the figural.

Such is the case with this one. While it maintains a “freehand Dublin” posture in the Danish style, it is dressed in a deep, hand-carved rusticated finish that, at points, extends through to the other side of the briar, creating a lattice effect. What’s most interesting, however, is how this finish is incorporated into into the bowl’s unique shaping. Featuring a broad ridge that traverses down from the rim’s lip, crossing the base, and reemerging at the rear, there is a striking similarity to the old Charatan “Keel” motif (so-named because of its resemblance to a ship’s hull), except in his instance the keel itself has been periodically hollowed, as if “weathered” by the ocean. It’s rare to see this kind of detailing outside of meerschaum pipes, and in this instance it’s a refreshing change of pace.

The condition is great. Minor wear to the inner rim.

Details:

Length: 6.5″ / 165.1mm

Bowl Width: 0.98 / 24.89mm

Bowl Depth: 2.13″ / 54.10mm

Weight: 2.9oz / 84g