Randy Wiley 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, nearly 50 years later. Wiley’s pipes might be characterized as American freehand in style; though he has occasionally made more traditional pieces, his work is typically freeform, often employing different types of hand-rustication for his various finishes. The average Wiley is large, rugged, and a reliable smoker, each having been oil cured by Wiley in advance of its by-hand manufacture.

Like the Danes, Randy Wiley has a long history of experimenting with different approaches to freehand pipe carving, including with finishes. This is one of the more rustic examples of the latter, hand carved as if to make the bowl resemble the plateaux burl of a particularly gnarly mass of briar root. The pipe is especially large, even for Wiley, approaching magnum proportions, especially in chamber volume.

The condition is great. Very minor inner rim darkening.

Details:

Length: 7.3″ / 185.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.95 / 24.13mm

Bowl Depth: 2.50″ / 63.50mm

Weight: 4.4oz / 126g