My first commission with Cooke has been a learning experience. I am finding the process of picking the right carver and explaining what you want to be fascinating and one I've not read too much about and so I thought I'd share the process from beginning to end. Picking the maker is straight forward. I then either drop a note or these days they tend to have online forms to initiate the process.
Michael has been exceedingly easy to talk to. I picked him for the "rugged elegance" of his work. There's a certain northern sensibility to his pipes that attracted me. I shared with him the shape I liked and size and wanted his take on it. Here's the basic order so that once the pipe arrives, you can then compare the intent vs follow thru.
"The basic request is a Michael Parks inspired, size 6, based upon the Dunhill Diplomat. "Ruggedly Elegant" is a great description. I love your blasts. Your idea of using a mammoth bone band combined with northern sensibilities makes me very confident in leaving the details to you."
He then came back with this....
"Okay regarding the pipe this sounds execellent and let's see then what I can come up with.....I have some ideas (maybe a combination finish??)"
Michael has been exceedingly easy to talk to. I picked him for the "rugged elegance" of his work. There's a certain northern sensibility to his pipes that attracted me. I shared with him the shape I liked and size and wanted his take on it. Here's the basic order so that once the pipe arrives, you can then compare the intent vs follow thru.
"The basic request is a Michael Parks inspired, size 6, based upon the Dunhill Diplomat. "Ruggedly Elegant" is a great description. I love your blasts. Your idea of using a mammoth bone band combined with northern sensibilities makes me very confident in leaving the details to you."
He then came back with this....
"Okay regarding the pipe this sounds execellent and let's see then what I can come up with.....I have some ideas (maybe a combination finish??)"