The safest way to go is with a well-known pipe carver like Tinsky and others regularly mentioned on Forums. You'll pay for the known name, but you will probably get a good pipe. If you need or want to be more thrifty, there are many talented carvers who are not "names," who do beautiful work. I prefer to see a selection of pipes in person and find my "soul mate" among them rather than do a commission and hope for the best, but either way works. Some carvers are not trying to pay their bills with their sales and can be much more easygoing about price, and some will go easy on what they perceive to be knowledgeable pipe people.