Commission question

[Bushido]

I arranged and prepaid for a custom pipe commission. I had sent the maker a picture of one of his previous pipes and wanted one similar. Later he sent me a picture of the shaped stummel. It looks well executed and I know I can't expect it to be identical, but the shape is a bit off from the pic I sent and what I was hoping for. It's not a huge difference, but in my mind bordering on a different shape. I'm not sure when a pipe maker sends a pic of the shaped stummel, if that's an invitation for input/ approval, or just showing progress as a courteousy.

He clearly does great work and seems like a great guy.
Is it poor form/ rude to tell him that it's not quite the shape I want? Or is it that I have to let an artist do his thing, and what I should expect is his interpretation, without me nitpicking about subtle shape changes? I know it's probably too late anyway, but just curious what the etiquette/ expectation is on this.

 

[fireground_piper]

Did you agree to any specific terms beforehand by chance?

 

[ashdigger]

It’s your money. Ask the carver. They are the artist, you are the customer.

 

[Chasing Embers]

prepaid for a custom pipe commission.

Never prepay.

Is it poor form/ rude to tell him that it's not quite the shape I want

Nope, it's your money.

Or is it that I have to let an artist do his thing, and what I should expect is his interpretation

Only if you requested something in the ballpark. If you and the carver agreed on something specific, that's what you should get.

For my first commission I asked for this shape.


With this shape stem made of ebonite and cumberland.



And got this.

 

[alwayslit]

Never prepay.



Nope, it's your money.



Only if you requested something in the ballpark. If you and the carver agreed on something specific, that's what you should get.

For my first commission I asked for this shape.
View attachment 169016

With this shape stem made of ebonite and cumberland.
View attachment 169017


And got this.
View attachment 169018

......this! BAW knew how to carve......beautiful pipe!

 

[cigrmaster]

Tell him that shape is not what you were expecting. If he feels like he cannot make what you want ask for your money back. Also never put up a dime on a commission. If the carver insists on a deposit, take your business elsewhere. If a carver needs a deposit it means he doesn't trust his work. Any carver worth anything will never ask for a deposit.
Never settle for something you did not discuss with the carver.

 

[geopiper]

Most carvers will try to get as close as possible to the shape you want but caveat it with two things: (1) briar is a natural material and the characteristics of the block may have an influence on the final product appearance, and (2) if you don't like what they make, say so, and they can always sell it to someone else and try to make you another pipe closer to exactly what you want.

You have to be slightly flexible, but in the end you decide if you like their final product.

 

[HawkeyeLinus]

Simply ask the carver, that's really all there is. What you think you see or what you are concerned it will turn into could be nothing, i.e., maybe that's how what you want actually does look like at this stage. It should be a bit of a relationship, even if a one time deal, and communication is always key and I'm sure expected.

 

[ron123]

I've gotten away from commissions almost 100% because of these dilemmas. At most, going forward, I'd say to tell carver X when he has another one (whatever shape/whatever carver), if they will keep you in mind and let you know. You now have avoided committing to it. If he eventually sends a pic and you don't like it, you can pass. You might never get what you want from carver X, but too often with commissions I haven't gotten what I had hoped for, but I always have gone through with the purchase to avoid causing hard feelings.

 

[Bushido]

Did you agree to any specific terms beforehand by chance?

I sent a picture of one of his previous pipes and said I want a pipe like that with the same shape. Probably my fault for not saying "as close to that as you can do." But like Hawkeye said, it could be that the pic is just how it looks at THAT stage. I didn't know prepaying wasn't standard, good to know.

 

[Bushido]

... but too often with commissions I haven't gotten what I had hoped for, but I always have gone through with the purchase to avoid causing hard feelings.

Yeah, I know these artisans work hard and aren't getting rich, so I hesitate to ask for a redo.

 

[JohnMosesBrowning]

I have nothing to contribute, but wanted to say this is a great question and conversation. I've thought about commissioning a pipe from a carver I like and have had these exact same thoughts, questions, and hesitations. I don't recall seeing a similar thread recently. So...thank you!

 

[georged]

The ONLY commission situation that consistently works out for both the carver and the customer are of the, "I'd like a billiard like the one you made for XYZ last month, just dark brown instead of natural" sort.

Or sandblasted instead of smooth.

Or with a saddle stem instead of a tapered one.

Etc.

Specific enough to be "ordered", but general enough that the transaction doesn't devolve into a swamp of debatable details.

Regarding the "Make me one of these!" scenario---meaning exactly COPY an existing pipe---a more direct path to creating two unhappy people is difficult to imagine.

 

[OzPiper]

Not exactly to the point of the OP but close.

I was buying knives some years ago and saw some I really liked. I contacted the knife maker and asked if he could make me one in a specific shape - one of HIS previous knives.
He became rather upset and told me that I was constraining his artistic freedom by asking him to make a specific knife and specifying what wood I wanted for the handles.

I thanked him politely and never contacted him again

 

[Bushido]

The ONLY commission situation that consistently works out for both the carver and the customer are of the, "I'd like a billiard like the one you made for XYZ last month, just dark brown instead of natural" sort.

Or sandblasted instead of smooth.

Or with a saddle stem instead of a tapered one.

Etc.

Specific enough to be "ordered", but general enough that the transaction doesn't devolve into a swamp of debatable details.

Regarding the "Make me one of these!" scenario---meaning exactly COPY an existing pipe---a more direct path to creating two unhappy people is difficult to imagine.

Agreed. Expecting an exact copy of something is bound to leave someone unsatisfied. That's what factories are for.

 

[anotherbob]

you should communicate period.

 

[Bushido]

The ONLY commission situation that consistently works out for both the carver and the customer are of the, "I'd like a billiard like the one you made for XYZ last month, just dark brown instead of natural" sort.

Where I think it's tough is if you ask for a "billiard like the one you made for xyz," but it ends up different enough that it's bordering on being more of maybe an apple or pot.

 

[ashdigger]

you should communicate period.

What if the carver is post menopausal?

 

[anotherbob]

What if the carver is post menopausal?

you should communicate. They should want happy customers even if that means they tell you how they work they are artisans. If they want to be creative they can chose their commisons. Their life details only matter if they make it that way.

 

[hoosierpipeguy]

Tell him that shape is not what you were expecting. If he feels like he cannot make what you want ask for your money back. Also never put up a dime on a commission. If the carver insists on a deposit, take your business elsewhere. If a carver needs a deposit it means he doesn't trust his work. Any carver worth anything will never ask for a deposit.
Never settle for something you did not discuss with the carver.

This.