Puff Daddy
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2007
- Messages
- 6,910
- Reaction score
- 98
There's a lot to be said for understated elegance. I'm an admirer of the Danish flair and the Italian aesthetic in pipe carving and have examples of these styles - specimens of which I am quite fond - but when a simply cut traditional pipe possessing smooth clean lines which also exudes a certain warmth comes around I'm struck with the affirmation that such a pipe is as elegant and lovely to behold as the most impressionistically carved briar pipe out there.
These things do not come about easily [the creation of such beautiful simplicity] and the oft misguided commentaries claiming that pipes of this genre are easily massed produced and are therefore unoriginal (diluted by association) fail to recognize that even though such a shape may in fact have been replicated thousands of times on some machine, the archetypal examples of the shape are hard won and come about through much effort in seeking to execute perfection. Just ask any carver how difficult it actually is to execute the perfect billiard.
Couple that with the fact that this certain pipe is a seasoned veteran with many long years of service, expertly brought back to life by the hands of a caring craftsman, and you've got something irresistible!
A hand made Stanwell Flame Grain Registered saddle bit straight billiard came into my possession some months ago and I recognized it as such a pipe. It was, however, tired and battle scarred with dings and scratches, fading stain and worn finish, a stem in sore need of replacement and sadly possessing a certain unfriendly funk in the smoke chamber. Clearly this was a pipe deserving a life renewed, a pipe with considerably more yet to give. Where else to send it but Precision Smoking Pipe Rejuvenation and Repair, to the hands of George Dibos who possesses an uncanny intuition in the realm of fine pipe resurrection.
The pipe came back into my possession yesterday after a brief visit to PSPR&R and it looks like a brand new pipe! It's simply beautiful 8) A new acrylic stem (my choice) and an airway opened to match the pipes bore and length, a new finish that was expertly done and a pipe which no longer possesses any off it's former scars. Simply amazing!! Smokes like a dream too! Am on my second bowl, a gently smoldering portion of Rattray's Brown Clunee which tastes wonderful coming from the little group four chamber.
Cheers to the bygone carvers of that Stanwell era who took the time to craft such elegant briars and hats off to George who lovingly rejuvenated such a worthy companion! I am most grateful 8)
These things do not come about easily [the creation of such beautiful simplicity] and the oft misguided commentaries claiming that pipes of this genre are easily massed produced and are therefore unoriginal (diluted by association) fail to recognize that even though such a shape may in fact have been replicated thousands of times on some machine, the archetypal examples of the shape are hard won and come about through much effort in seeking to execute perfection. Just ask any carver how difficult it actually is to execute the perfect billiard.
Couple that with the fact that this certain pipe is a seasoned veteran with many long years of service, expertly brought back to life by the hands of a caring craftsman, and you've got something irresistible!
A hand made Stanwell Flame Grain Registered saddle bit straight billiard came into my possession some months ago and I recognized it as such a pipe. It was, however, tired and battle scarred with dings and scratches, fading stain and worn finish, a stem in sore need of replacement and sadly possessing a certain unfriendly funk in the smoke chamber. Clearly this was a pipe deserving a life renewed, a pipe with considerably more yet to give. Where else to send it but Precision Smoking Pipe Rejuvenation and Repair, to the hands of George Dibos who possesses an uncanny intuition in the realm of fine pipe resurrection.
The pipe came back into my possession yesterday after a brief visit to PSPR&R and it looks like a brand new pipe! It's simply beautiful 8) A new acrylic stem (my choice) and an airway opened to match the pipes bore and length, a new finish that was expertly done and a pipe which no longer possesses any off it's former scars. Simply amazing!! Smokes like a dream too! Am on my second bowl, a gently smoldering portion of Rattray's Brown Clunee which tastes wonderful coming from the little group four chamber.
Cheers to the bygone carvers of that Stanwell era who took the time to craft such elegant briars and hats off to George who lovingly rejuvenated such a worthy companion! I am most grateful 8)