Good Briar Grain.

[paulfg]

But it is something that happens that artisans suddenly appear overnight asking for those prices.

they can ask but more fool you if you pay it

 

[crusader]

For me, $300 is expensive. I would also consider $500 for a known carver.

It just seems a lot of factory pipes like Peterson, Savenelli, etc are mainly blast/rusticated on SP, et. All and asking a few hundred for these.

 

[Hillcrest]

For me, $300 is expensive. I would also consider $500 for a known carver.

It just seems a lot of factory pipes like Peterson, Savenelli, etc are mainly blast/rusticated on SP, et. All and asking a few hundred for these.

I window shop both sites but have found you can get some unsmoked estate deals on the SP.eu site on occasion if you are quick. Not so much on SP.com in the lower price ranges. I prefer ebay for unsmoked NOS deals but the pipes I prefer are not in demand so that helps too.

 

[Hillcrest]

For me, $300 is expensive. I would also consider $500 for a known carver.

It just seems a lot of factory pipes like Peterson, Savenelli, etc are mainly blast/rusticated on SP, et. All and asking a few hundred for these.

Just out of curiosity, what shape pipes do you like ? Straight or bent etc ?

 

[ssjones]

This has been an interesting read on many levels. I think a few things need to be addressed though.

The "lack" of briar is not due to any Asian carvers / countries buying up massive quantities of premium briar. One of the "major" suppliers in Italy was approached with an offer to buy all his briar. He rejected the offer. No one with a long term business goal puts all their eggs ( or briar ) in one basket. So forget blaming a single buyer.

The main reason was the pandemic. Many areas that briar is harvested were under very strict lock down rules. Thus even IF there was briar to harvest, it was not permitted to harvest. Now in those regions, like here, trying to find people that are willing to work is challenging. Thus getting briar from the ground, is not as it once was.

This is also why many of the Italian brands have not been offering as many pipes as pre 2019. Due to lockdowns, the workshops and factories were closed. All that I have spoken with have told me they are slowly getting caught up, but it is a slow process.

On to grain ...... interestingly I was at Castello in Cantu a few weeks ago. The number of rusticated pipes and sandblast pipes were far less than smooth pipes, be it mixed smooth, cross grain smooth, flame grain smooth or fiammata graded smooth pipes.

At the Radice workshop in Cucciago the number of rusticated pipes were far greater than smooth or sandblasted pipes.

The artisans, workshops, and factories are at the mercy of the briar they have in inventory. Sometimes it's great and sometimes it not. Sometimes it's somewhere in the middle. While at Castello I viewed a large bin, large enough to hold three intimate friends, that was filled with partially finished pipes that were all discards. Each had some flaw, whether in the chamber or on the exterior, that rendered each piece unfinishable.

FWIW, these discards are not used as heating fuel, at Castello. Franco told me that these are saved and used to experiment with different stains and potential different finishing techniques. Things like the Le Dune finish came from experimenting with carving techniques. Also these may be used to workout new shape variations. Carvers are not stupid. Even the discards have a purpose.

Anyway, just a few thoughts .... and maybe one more .... many many years ago, when I began my business, a wise mentor once said to me .... Mike ... in this business if you haven't heard a new rumor by 8 am ..just wait till 9 am .....

Mike

You are always insightful Mike, thanks for sharing this in-person experience.

 

[sablebrush52]

But it is something that happens that artisans suddenly appear overnight asking for those prices.

Sure some are, nothing new about this. Doesn’t mean they’re selling.
Years ago a bunch of newbie carvers with dreams of avarice put their confections up for sale at the WCPS at absurd prices and got to take them home unsold at the end of the show.
On the other hand, carvers who have put serious effort, energy, passion, and expense into producing quality work and have built up a following over years May want to be compensated for their skills. Their prices will reflect that history and their work will sell at those prices.
Experience, knowledge and expertise have value.

 

[briarblues]

Years ago, in an interview .... Kenny G was asked what he credits his "over night success". His reply .. over 10,000 hours of practice.

It takes time to develop the skills to become capable. It can take years for some to be very good and even many more to become excellent.

There have been a few, very lucky ones that just "got it" early on.

 

[crusader]

Just out of curiosity, what shape pipes do you like ? Straight or bent etc ?

I'm open to all and don't really have a preference. I choose on how the mood hits me.

 

[anotherbob]

Hey all! Something hat has been rattling around the ol'nogin lately.

It seems as though that there has been a ton of blasted or rusticated new pipes for the last couple of years. Anything with straight, or even interesting grain is minimal and quote expensive.
Are the days of mid tier pipes with interesting grain history?

not at all. But you have to look for them. Also helps to just appreciate the chaos of nature as expressed in grain. Or it helps me that I don't agree with conventual wisdom of what makes a good grain. I like one I can explore with my eyes. But I've seen some mid tier pipes that could be sold for more if the maker wanted. I think it's mostly a market issue. As in charging more for certain grain because the market allows them to.

 

[anotherbob]

Years ago, in an interview .... Kenny G was asked what he credits his "over night success". His reply .. over 10,000 hours of practice.

It takes time to develop the skills to become capable. It can take years for some to be very good and even many more to become excellent.

There have been a few, very lucky ones that just "got it" early on.

If I was in his shoes I'd say "the publics lack of taste".

 

[Chasing Embers]

There have been a few, very lucky ones that just "got it" early on.

I've been fortunate enough to have called a couple of them friend.

 

[ParkitoATL]

It seems as though that there has been a ton of blasted or rusticated new pipes for the last couple of years. Anything with straight, or even interesting grain is minimal and quote expensive.
Are the days of mid tier pipes with interesting grain history?

My question is: do pipes with better grain (making them more suitable for stains and not sandblasts/rusticated) inherently smoke sweeter? I just bought a Peterson 05 Calabash that, right out of the gate, smokes better than all my other pipes. It is a stained wood grain, everything else is rough or super dark stain.

 

[Hillcrest]

I'm open to all and don't really have a preference. I choose on how the mood hits me.

There's some nice unsmoked seconds with nice grain on the EU site this week in the 1-150 range ... FYI

Well ... until everybody reads this before you !!