The Newest Pipe: A Father's Day Gift For Someone

[cosmicfolklore]

I just finished up the newest pipe. This was a stummel from a collection of 1905-1920's unsmoked pipe stummels. I hand-carved a pipe stem from vulcanite. This is why I love the bulldogs. Making those faceted pipe stems just is just way easier than trying to make the round ones. All I have to do is keep it symmetrical.
The band on this one is silver infused quartz set in sterling silver, made in the same way as the gold infused stone that I created for the last pipe band.
I like to leave the briar unfinished. To me it makes the pipe more alive if it is changing and growing with me. Plus, I just prefer the way it feels in the hand, as opposed to wax.
It is over 100 year old Algerian briar, light weight, and clenches well balanced. I got this order in via Facebook. It is a father's day gift from a wife. I hope I'm not ruining one of you gent's surprises, lol. But, I posted it here instead of FB, because I thought it less a chance to ruin the gift.
I really enjoy my pipes made from these ancient bulldogs. Super smokes. I hope this guy enjoys his as well.
What do you think?

It's not too presumptuous of me to add my maker's mark to the stem, is it?

 

[hodirty]

That is F-ing awesome cosmic! the band work you do is astounding. Plus, who doesn't love some Maker's Mark?? Kudos all around.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Thanks guys. I have a whole box of these bulldogs that I'm anxious to get finished and into my own wheelhouse of pipes. I can make custom pipes if anyone is interested. I am also working on some new design ideas. The melting thing is getting a little old for me, haha. I don't want them to all be the same. But, when most of my work for decades now has been stuff for women's jewelry, it's hard to come up with masculine design ideas. But, I'm enjoying the challenge and divergence.

 

[sailorjeremy]

Very cool! Awesome work cosmic! I'm sure whomever that pipe is going to will be one happy dude.

 

[ravenwolf]

Cosmic, that is absolutely brilliant work!
Maybe the melting effect is becoming more boring for you to create (and I can understand an artistic wish to be more diverse), but it is still stunning to me - I havn't seen anything like that before. PM incoming :D

 

[woodsroad]

Beautiful, amusing and surprising!

I'd be humbled to receive this wonderful pipe.

 

[ssjones]

Wow, that is beautiful! Your own version of the Ligne Bretagne.

I think those strummels with a black vulcanite stem and a tobacco leaf band theme in silver would look smashing.

Someone is going to have a nice Fathers Day!

 

[voorhees]

Cosmic, love it. Btw, I have a tamper project in mind for you. Probably be Chattanooga before I am ready. We'll talk.

 

[fadingdaylight]

Awesome. It looks great cosmic. I need to show this my wife with a little "hint hint". Someone is getting pretty damn lucky this year.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

@Vorhees, awesome, I will see you at the show.

@ssjones, Ligne Bretagne, wow, what an honor. I love those bulldogs. I find all of the variations in that shape style fascinating. I've been playing around with the leaf idea. It is hard to make it look like a tobacco leaf though, without also looking like a tree leaf, or flower petal, or a vine, etc... But, I'm playing with the idea.
I also thank the rest of you gentlemen. I sincerely hope that I haven't ruined a surprise for one of you. But, I was excited to get her finished up and photographed. Now, a final buff and off to the post office ::

 

[macabra11]

That is an AWESOME pipe! I love the dripping metal look.

 

[shaintiques]

Ok how about a sword that wraps around the shank? I've been thinking about that for the USMC pipes we have been discussing. Is that doable. I love the bulldog. I think bent bulldogs are my favorite shape anyway.

 

[plateauguy]

Beautiful!
What about a cigar band? The reference to ladies jewelry reminded me that I paid for a gold cigar band ring for my daughter and she loves it. The cigar band would be a strange twist on a pipe. Just a suggestion, personally, I love the dripping silver!

 

[bullbriar]

Nice work, I wish it was my surprise that was ruined!

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Thanks guys, I'm honored.
@ shaintiques, I can easily do a Marine Corps logo. I also can envision something playing with a clear blue turquoise, chains, and an anchor, with the top of the silver looking like a gunwale of a ship. But, that might get pretty intricate, lol. But doable :wink:

 

[tlag77]

Badass....that is all I have to say.

 

[rangerearthpig]

Like all your work, it's amazing.

 

[yazamitaz]

Marine Corps pipes???? EGA on the stem????
NOW you have my attention. Who is heading up this project????

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Definitely some bad ass bling going on there. Very neat and creative.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Thanks again guys,
The MC pipe is shaintiques baby. He probably has more skills in working the actual briar than me. I am just using stummels from a warehouse buy out.
Peck, you know you want some bling bling :wink: