Commissions?

[ithelouniverse]

Have any of you gents ever commissioned a pipe? Is it more expensive than buying a similar one from the same maker? If so how much more? How much control do you have in the creation? Time? Do you contact a vendor or the artisan directly?
Any recommendations as to what maker? I'm thinking along the lines of a Canadian...
I'm selling my truck and might just get one started. I have big ideas for it...

 

[peckinpahhombre]

You can play it however you want. I usually agree with them on the shape, the finish, and maybe the stem, but let them take it from there. If I designed animals, my first creation would be a platypus. 'Nuff said.

 

[quincy]

+1 peck. I figured if I'm commissioning you to make me a pipe it's because I like what you do and want to see more. I usually give loose guidelines and let them shine through!

 

[layinpipe]

I currently have one being custom made by Mark Tinsky. It is being blasted by m. Lindner as we speak and is a poker take on his black and tan, with a couple variations. He is also making me a matching tamper to go with it. I caught him at the perfect time and there was no wait. So far it has been easy and his communication is quick and easy. I gave him some dimensions and a rough outline of what I wanted and told him to run with it. I will certainly post about it with pics when I get it. Not sure on the price yet, but should be around 200, plus or minus 20 or 30.

 

[psychpipes]

+1 Peck

+1 Quincy
The way I see it: they are the artist. I give them the general things I'm looking for, and we bounce ideas and pictures back and forth. I decide that my general wants are met, and let the artist go. I'm no artist, and generally don't get what makes art--art. I only know what I like, and allow more creative minds take the reins. If it were up to me, I would have told Picasso to stop embarrassing himself with that crap.

 

[jfox520]

I am currently having a custom Canadian carved by Eric Paulson. The process was the basically same that was stated above.

 

[ithelouniverse]

Layinpipe: 1: GREAT NAME! 2. Really only 200?! That's killer, and I like his stuff. Will you post a pic when you get it?

JFox: I actually emailed him for a quote last night... Hope to hear back soon...

 

[papipeguy]

I have 2 custom pipes by Dan Chlebove of Gabrieli Pipes. Price is largely determined by size, materials and the time to make the pipe. Dan's prices are fair for the tremendous value of his work and you should expect to pay $250 -$400 depending on the above. There's nothing like having your own one-of pipe.

 

[layinpipe]

Layinpipe: 1: GREAT NAME! 2. Really only 200?! That's killer, and I like his stuff. Will you post a pic when you get it?

JFox: I actually emailed him for a quote last night... Hope to hear back soon...

Like i said, i'm not sure exactly what the price will turn out to be, as Mark did not tell me and only gave me a rough estimate. He did say it would be a fair price or something along those lines, and i am going off what one of those shapes costs on his website which is also what he goes off of. I think 250 would probably be the max he would charge, but Mark seems to be a very fair person from my correspondance with him. I told him whatever he thinks is fair is fine with me and that i certainly am not the type of person who would low ball him, as i know what kind of quality work he puts into them.
Yes, i will absolutely post pics once i receive the pipe from Mark. The wait is killing me, i want the pipe already, lol!!!

 

[psychpipes]

Layinpipe: 1: GREAT NAME! 2. Really only 200?! That's killer, and I like his stuff. Will you post a pic when you get it?

JFox: I actually emailed him for a quote last night... Hope to hear back soon...

Generally Eric charges $125 for a pipe (commissioned or not), unless it is something crazy that would warrant more. I've bought two decidedly different pipes with more to them than is etsy store pipes, and he still charged me $125 for each with free shipping.

 

[ithelouniverse]

Psychpipes: any chance of you posting pics of them?

 

[pitchfork]

I've never handled a Gabrieli pipe, but they look like they're extremely well made. Fair enough prices, too.