The carving is awkward. I'm not a big fan of carved shapes like claws or faces per se. With
Meerschaum, some of shapes, are appealing, though I'm not a Meerschaum smoker. But it's a
special tradition with them. I like the way briar pipes are designed around their function and yet take so many
different shapes, both traditional and creative, and so many colors, textures, and materials to achieve their
realization. The boot pipe is whimsical, but I wouldn't want it.