Seven Day Set - A Unifying Theme?

[pruss]

Thanks for sharing the carver with us. That helps narrow the field some with regards to shapes and finishing. I say "some" because he truly is a master in the craft and has gone bat-shit crazy creative in design and also executes the classic shapes flawlessly.
How important is it that the set have a broad aesthetic appeal? Meaning, do you want a set that is ENTIRELY crafted for you or do you want it to have appeal to the broader pipe-smoking audience?
This will help determine the shapes and sizes in the set.
Do you want to challenge the carver? I think we know where his current design interest is rooted and we're seeing that in the work he is doing. Do you want to challenge him to work outside of this box?
This will help determine how far afield you can go on shapes and finishes.
Here are some themes that might be fun to consider:
1) Replicate a catalog from a classic factory. http://www.briarbooks.com/BBB_1912_Catalogue.html

2) Create a set based around how you smoke on each day of the week. ie. Sunday = NFL pipe, four hour smoke minimum...

3) Build out a 7-Day cased Donkey Nut set in different finishes.

4) Consider a unifying design element like silver bands, or military mounts, or both.

5) Switch it up with your carver and have him build an entire 7 day set of smooths. I don't think I've ever seen another one from him.
Regardless of what you do with your set, consider having two separate cases built. Case one would be a thin travel box with indents for each pipe. Case two could be a table top display case, glassed on all four sides, which would allow your collection to be grouped together in pride of place no matter where you display it.
Have fun, and keep us posted.
-- Pat

 

[voorhees]

Depending on the carver, I'd go with 7 different pipe shapes in his signature finish (Walt Connoy's suede comes to mind) or your favorite shape in various finishes.
OR different materials and different shapes..(Morta/Briar/Meer/Olivewood/Strawberry wood/Gourd Calabash/Lemonwood)??
I'd love a 7 day set of different shapes of my choice from Connoy.

 

[newbroom]

Sit down with a pad and pencil and doodle some pipe designs. See if you come up with anything that you like. More than one, preferably. Several rough sketches of shapes that come to your mind.

Then think about ALL the pipes you own which ones you think are your favorite and why they are so.

Make a list of those attributes that your guy can use as 'considerations'.

I'm leaning for your Artist to choose one shape that he chooses from your designs, or creates his own with your designs as a rough template and then produce a week's worth of his best renditions in various finishes and perhaps variations of shape so slight that they're still recognizably family.

Collaboration. How about a special stamp for your commissions, Hombre? I suggest something along the lines of 'the scales of justice', or...maybe the whole snake. (you know I'm just trying to be funny. my kid is a lawyer, and she's the furthest thing from a snake you would want, so I know it's possible)

 

[voorhees]

Now that I see the carver...
7 pipes from his list of styles you love. In varying finishes and stem material. Sit back and wait.

 

[misterlowercase]

I dunno how you feel about squat shapes,

but given my latest obsession with them,

I'd go for a squashed septet!
:

 

[jfox520]

How about you favorite shape and finish in different woods. Briar, Olive wood, Black Morta, Brown Morta, Strawberry, Mulberry, and Maple.

 

[saltedplug]

Why tolerate anything other than your favorite shape, so specify shape. Most prefer blasts and smooths and denigrate rusticated, at least to some extent. I will look at that finish but only occasionally like such. Thus if you wanted rusticated I would ask for a preview. As you know there are many appealing finishes, but again I would suggest to the carver its ideal form, and at least one pipe should display it; beyond that, variations on the theme.
I would want every pipe to be 50g or less.

 

[misterlowercase]

You could go all-out avant and ask for a septet of his abstract organic shapes,

such a set would win Best of Show at some point I'd reckon...

 

[layinpipe]

Theme: 7 deadly sins; wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and gluttony.
Have each of the sins made into a shape that has some resemblance/relationship to that particular sin. For example, have a chubby nosewarmer represent gluttony or a smooth shape with beautiful grain represent envy or an insane blast on a shape represent wrath (the wrath of the sandblaster applied to the briar). Have them each with a different color stem to tie into the theme and them have the carver label each pipe with the appropriate deadly sin in the same area as the nomenclature.
That would truly be a unique and interesting 7 day set and considering the carver, i think it would be worth giving him the artistic freedom to run with the theme and see what he comes up with. Maybe you just give him the shapes you want and let him decide the rest.
Curious to see how this develops, keep us posted...

 

[newbroom]

7 shapes with 'identical' finish patterns. That was actually pretty easy.

To clarify, 7 of the shapes from his page...and as an example of one with the finish I'd like to see replicated in a set and a shape that has been advocated by MLC...I mean, mlc...here's this one.

 

[brass]

There are so many knowledgeable members here that it is difficult to add anything unique at the end of ten or twenty plus posts. But I would share pics with the carvers of pipes that I adore but perhaps couldn't afford and tell him what you like about those pipes. The more the better.
I would then wait to see what the artist creates. To me, giving very specific specs to a carver is akin to giving cabinet specs to a mill. You might as well use a 3D printer. On the other hand, if you have very specific designs in mind, and you just want someone to carve your designs to order - which is perfectly admirable - you could likely not need to go to top tier artisans.
The value of giving the artisan free reign is that they are more likely to create a design based on their own inspiration and are likely to put more of their "soul" into the effort - as compared to just filling an order.
Of course their is a another approach, which the OP is using. Collaborate with the artisan and create pipes that are the spawn of both owner and artisan.

 

[pruss]

How about a 7 Day Set based on the original Justice League.
Sunday - Superman

Monday - Flash

Tuesday - Aquaman

Wednesday - Martian Manhunter

Thursday - Green Lantern

Friday - Batman

Saturday - Wonder Woman

 

[fmgee]

I think a subtle unifying theme could be a good way to go. Something where you can only tell they are a seven day set when they are together.
Ideas that come to mind:
A gradation of stem colour from black through the browns to caramel and then white.
You could do something similar with a variety of metals for the bands. Stamp them all with the Peck family crest.
Are you particularly attached to your university and want to incorporate colours into inlays or the bands?
It is certainly an interesting thing to ponder and it will be good to see what where you take it.

 

[seacaptain]

mrlowercase, who/what is this pipe? Simply amazing!

 

[voorhees]

newbroom...that saucer.. :worship:

 

[menuhin]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_deadly_sins#Historical_and_modern_definitions
::

There're abstract concepts but not so sinful indeed
Gluttony - Oom Paul?

Greed - Chimney?

Sloth - Churchwarden?

Wrath - Straight Poker?

Envy - A smaller size more angular pipe shape?

Pride - Prince?
Lust - ... like this?

 

[drezz01]

Hmmm what about a run of pipes inspired by the namesakes of each day - the roman words for the sun, moon, and the 5 known planets: Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus and Saturn. The shape/finish could be derived from the planet's characteristics or the roman mythology that surrounds them.

I would say you could make the bands out of their planetary metals but I'm not sure Lead, or Mercury for that matter, would make very good bands...

 

[drezz01]

Oops copied the wrong link - the first image should be:

Post was too old to edit -- life fail.

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Pat wins the award on this thread.

 

[pruss]

Pat wins the award on this thread.

I can't wait to see the Martian Manhunter pipe.
-- Pat