Battle of the Briar Documentary Review

[admin]

If you haven't heard of The Battle of the Briar, or perhaps forgot - it was at the 2023 Chicago pipe show that three pipe makers competed against the clock and each other to see who could make the best pipe in one hour.

Now, Adam Floyd and Nick Masella of the Get Piped podcast have made a documentary that includes background, interviews and competitor narration of the contest, along with some explaining of our hobby for the non-pipe smoker viewer.

Check out James Foster's review at the following link.

Documentary Review: The Battle of the Briar​

 

[anotherbob]

Personally I'd like to see the reviews of this from someone that doesn't smoke a pipe. I know we will like it unless it's terrible.
There was a doc about competitive scrabble players that was not only interesting, it showed me how to be more strategic playing scrabble. My favorite trick is to use obscure words that get challenged until people get reluctant to challenge them and then make up something. Equestrian is still a word I am proud to have made out of the already played quest .

 

[georged]

The concept always made my brain screech. Like watching a Jacques Pepin or Eric Ripert scissor open a bag of pre-cooked chicken and slide it onto a plate at Taco Bell.

The main thing that differentiates artisan pipes from assembly line ones is TIME.

The "not having to stop until it's perfect" idea is the magic that attracts and motivates both the buyers and the makers of one-off pipes to do what they do.

 

[sablebrush52]

Sounds interesting. I'm not sure I'm ready to pay $45 to watch it.

The interesting thing about experienced artisans is the smoothness and quickness with which they do things that mere mortals would find impossible to duplicate. Looking at antique furniture, like well preserved 18th century pieces with intricate inlays, all of the visible surfaces look perfect. Then look at the back surfaces and they're shaped just enough, with no time wasted on the hidden surfaces. That's an economy of effort to reach a perceived level of perfection.

Also, no matter how skilled the artisan, time imposes limits that affect results. In my business, being fast gave an artist a certain cachet and desirability, but I found that many of the paintings they produced were not properly finished at a basic level, and I often had to fix them. The technique was there, but the ideas weren't. Boy did that get old.

When I was younger, there was a certain thrill to blasting through a stack of paintings on a tight schedule, without sacrificing quality. These days I have no interest in doing that. I'd rather take time to see what new ideas come to the fore.

But, this is a special circumstance, sort of stunt carving for the entertainment of enthusiasts.

 

[BingBong]

I was rather hoping that this was about guys slugging it out with those big ugly Marxman pipes. Maybe an idea for another day.

 

[georged]

I was rather hoping that this was about guys slugging it out with those big ugly Marxman pipes. Maybe an idea for another day.

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[AroEnglish]

Sounds interesting. I'm not sure I'm ready to pay $45 to watch it.

The interesting thing about experienced artisans is the smoothness and quickness with which they do things that mere mortals would find impossible to duplicate. Looking at antique furniture, like well preserved 18th century pieces with intricate inlays, all of the visible surfaces look perfect. Then look at the back surfaces and they're shaped just enough, with no time wasted on the hidden surfaces. That's an economy of effort to reach a perceived level of perfection.

Also, no matter how skilled the artisan, time imposes limits that affect results. In my business, being fast gave an artist a certain cachet and desirability, but I found that many of the paintings they produced were not properly finished at a basic level, and I often had to fix them. The technique was there, but the ideas weren't. Boy did that get old.

When I was younger, there was a certain thrill to blasting through a stack of paintings on a tight schedule, without sacrificing quality. These days I have no interest in doing that. I'd rather take time to see what new ideas come to the fore.

But, this is a special circumstance, sort of stunt carving for the entertainment of enthusiasts.

It wasn’t immediately obvious where you could watch it but it’s available here for $12:

Buy “Battle of the Briar - A Pipe Smoking Documentary (55 Minutes)” on Patreon | Get Piped

Check out Get Piped’s shop on Patreon

www.patreon.com

 

[sablebrush52]

It wasn’t immediately obvious where you could watch it but it’s available here for $12:

Buy “Battle of the Briar - A Pipe Smoking Documentary (55 Minutes)” on Patreon | Get Piped

Check out Get Piped’s shop on Patreon

www.patreon.com

I might watch it for $12, but I'll have to think about it.

 

[pylorns]

I might watch it for $12, but I'll have to think about it.

Or just show up at the chicago pipe show and watch it for free.

 

[admin]

It wasn’t immediately obvious where you could watch it but it’s available here for $12:

Buy “Battle of the Briar - A Pipe Smoking Documentary (55 Minutes)” on Patreon | Get Piped

Check out Get Piped’s shop on Patreon

www.patreon.com

The link is in bold text at the end of the review.

 

[daveinlax]

I waited to watch the film before I read James’ review. It was a very thoughtful review and I throughly enjoyed Battle of the Briar!

 

[jguss]

I might watch it for $12, but I'll have to think about it.

When they pay me I might sign up. If it’s a lot of money. And if it’s a slow day.