As some of you saw, I was interested in commissioning a carver to make a figural meerschaum pipe for me. I’ve wanted a Dall Sheep pipe for some time, but there isn’t really anything close to a realistic option available. There are rams, to be sure, but none of them are Dall rams.
One of the most challenging parts of this pipe was finding a carver who could pull off the horns which spiral away from the head and taper down to small tips. In fact, I contacted some 25 carvers with this design and was told that many of them couldn’t do it. I had several of them tell me it was impossible and the horns would break during the carving process.
Not one to accept being told no easily, I kept searching and contacting carvers. @hoosierpipeguy recommended I get in touch with @Said.ALTINAY to discuss the project. When I started speaking with him, he quickly pointed me to Kenan Kökbudak and told me that was definitely the carver I was looking for. After a quick look at some of Kenan’s work, it was clear he was the man for the task.
After a bit of back and forth with @Said.ALTINAY discussing the specifics of this pipe and the intricacies I hoped would be replicated, exchanging what now feels like several hundred photos, and a handful of questions both ways, the pipe began to take shape.
It’s not too often that I’m completely blown away by something as material as a pipe, but considering the inconceivable level of talent possessed by the man who carved it, that reaction was entirely reasonable.
I can’t begin to express how pleased I am with this result, and have decided to continue with Kenan by asking him to make a seven day set of figural meers, each depicting a different animal particularly important to me.
Without further ado, my new Dall Sheep ram, carved by Kenan Kökbudak:
One of the most challenging parts of this pipe was finding a carver who could pull off the horns which spiral away from the head and taper down to small tips. In fact, I contacted some 25 carvers with this design and was told that many of them couldn’t do it. I had several of them tell me it was impossible and the horns would break during the carving process.
Not one to accept being told no easily, I kept searching and contacting carvers. @hoosierpipeguy recommended I get in touch with @Said.ALTINAY to discuss the project. When I started speaking with him, he quickly pointed me to Kenan Kökbudak and told me that was definitely the carver I was looking for. After a quick look at some of Kenan’s work, it was clear he was the man for the task.
After a bit of back and forth with @Said.ALTINAY discussing the specifics of this pipe and the intricacies I hoped would be replicated, exchanging what now feels like several hundred photos, and a handful of questions both ways, the pipe began to take shape.
It’s not too often that I’m completely blown away by something as material as a pipe, but considering the inconceivable level of talent possessed by the man who carved it, that reaction was entirely reasonable.
I can’t begin to express how pleased I am with this result, and have decided to continue with Kenan by asking him to make a seven day set of figural meers, each depicting a different animal particularly important to me.
Without further ado, my new Dall Sheep ram, carved by Kenan Kökbudak:
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