Well what going on in Czech Republic thats a good question. Even for me as native Czech, born and bred in Prague. how does come, why so many tallented pipe maker emerged within last few years? I stronly believe it have it own roots in Workshops organized by Jan Klouček and mixed with lively on-line pipe comunity (Pipe smokers and makers forums and its own associated Pipe Club with chapters around the country) with offshoots to modern social media (Facebook).
Lets talk about brand and makers:
Oldřich Jirsa (
Jirsa pipes - https://www.jirsa-pipes.cz) as far I know longest existing brand of new breed of pipemakers since early 90's. In my own opinion his brand got trough several ups and downs. Now on rise again, recently seen few of his pipes and my jaw dropped when I seen them, because they look like late 90's pipes from his production hwen he was top and affordable pipemaker in here.
Michal Novák (
novakpipes.cz - https://www.novakpipes.cz/en1/). Pipes with distinquished style, but not my cup of tea.
Petr Vobořil (
Vobořil Pipes - Pipes, Pipes for sale - http://www.dymky-vp.cz/index.php?lang=en-GB) Unique styled pipes and good smokers as far I can say.
Jan Klouček (
Janpipes - http://www.janpipes.cz/) Modified classic style pipes. Somehow Godfather of Czech pipemaking boom several now active (and even inactive) pipemakers started making pipes in his workshop.
Petr Kučera (pipkinpipes.com) Now as it looks inactive pipemaker. He is 1. czech pipemaker whom makes sold his pipes trough Danish Pipe Shop
Radek "Dejmal" Jouza (
RX pipes - http://rxpipes.blogspot.com/) Golden handed one, brilliant restorer and pipemaker.
Petr Libora (
Petr Pipes - http://petrpipes.blogspot.com/) My personal favourite pipe maker. If you are interested in classic english shapes of best English tradition with value added by sole artitsan work you are in right place. I would highly recommend his spigot pipes, be cause he is very tallented self-taught silversmith.
Martin Čermák (web inactive) One of shooting stars of czech freehand design and also I can recomend his "sub-brand" seawolfpipes.cz which are standard shaped pipes with very reasonable pricing made from machine made stummels with invention of artisanal pipemaker.
Jiřík "Biftek" Maczko (
Biftek Pipes - https://www.facebook.com/biftekpipes/) Master of wild freehand design. Absolutely unique styled pipes. Unfortunatelly he did not take any commissions due huge backlog of orders by his own worlds 2 years backlog. He works with best Mimmo Briar and 1. quality german ebonite. He and Martin Čermák buys their briar from Mimmos sawmill on site (they visit him at least once a year).
Pavel "Eclesia" Holub (
Eclesia's Pipes - https://www.facebook.com/EclesiaPipemaker) As far I can say almost most recent addition of pipemaking universe. Very unique styled pipes from briar and morta (he dugs his own bog oak).
Ad few more. So many pipemakers, so many nice pipes, not enough funds to buy them all and of course so little time to smoke them.
Jack