What Defines a "Beautiful" Pipe To You?

[solideogloria86]

But harmony could also describe how the pipe serves its purpose as a smoking tool, while at the same time being aesthetically pleasing no?

If I had a beautiful pipe that smoked terribly, it'd be the same thing as a physically attractive woman with a rotten personality. It would immediately lose all it's charm. Truth and beauty go hand in hand. A pipe in a photograph or on a shelf can be beautiful and smoke terribly as long as I haven't experienced the terrible performance ?

 

[username]

I like cobs so take this with a grain of salt. But I do like me some nice birds eye grain.

 

[Papamique]

I’m not sure the answer to this question but I know it when I see it....and it’s usually a Sasieni.

 

[lochinvar]

Most important to me are the proportions, and if they present a balanced, harmonious pipe, and what can unbalance a pipe for me is many a splendored thing. To my eye, Bill Taylor couldn't turn out a balanced bulldog, something about the transition from the shank to the bottom of the bowl on his irks me. While I love smoking Charatans, a lot of their proportions are jarring to my eye. Comoy's shaping usually hits exactly right.
Now, we have a thing of beauty. If I smoke it and it smokes like a turd, it's still beautiful, but I won't keep it. Function is king, and beauty is not enough reason for it to stay. Sorta like getting a '68 Chevelle SS and finding out some joker put a Honda Accord engine in it.

 

[olkofri]

it'd be the same thing as a physically attractive woman with a rotten personality

Well...

 

[bnichols23]

Anything not bulldog or rhodesian shaped with a nice ring blast.

I'm really going to tick you off tomorrow.

 

[solideogloria86]

If I had a beautiful pipe that smoked terribly, it'd be the same thing as a physically attractive woman with a rotten personality. It would immediately lose all it's charm. Truth and beauty go hand in hand.
[/QUOTE

Well...

Forgive? Sure. Be around? No ?

 

[greeneyes]

a pipe is a spirit
impressed upon a thing,
like djinns forth
from a bottle
spring


"...its sculptor well those passions read
Which yet survive, stamped on these lifeless
things,
..."

-Percy Byssee Shelley (Ozymandias)

 

[craiginthecorn]

What I find so interesting about aesthetics is how preferences change. Beautiful is a moving target. Not only are there style trends that move preferences of the public, but my own preferences change. Pipes that I thought were gorgeous a few years ago now sit in cigar boxes until I get around to selling them.

Because of that, more and more, I'm drawn to classic, timeless designs that are exquisitely executed with no fills, beautiful grain or blast that complements the shape, a properly proportioned stem, and maybe a simple adornment, like a silver band or spigot.

Ask me again next year....

 

[sablebrush52]

Any pipe that offers me a great smoking experience is beautiful in mine eyes.

 

[canucklehead]

Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.

 

[OzPiper]

But harmony could also describe how the pipe serves its purpose as a smoking tool, while at the same time being aesthetically pleasing no?

Nirvana - where form meets function

 

[stokesdale]

Nice even graining with a light/clear stain.

 

[winton]

When I am looking at a table of pipes, I only "see" pipes that have a continuous line from the bowl to the stem. Thus, no saddle stem pipes.

But, there are lots of other criteria, gift from friend, helping a pipe maker, gift card about to expire, etc.

 

[anotherbob]

Something intangible. I have had great luck with finding great smokers at a number of price points, it's almost like I have some instinct for good pipes. Until proven otherwise I am going with character and smoking quality. I also seem prefer bent pipes too and yet never had an issue with gurgles even when I didn't know about drying out tobacco.

 

[bnichols23]

For my dear friend embers.

 

[olkofri]

For my dear friend embers.

Is that like a dromedary zuludesiandog 90004?

 

[olkofri]

Beauty is in the eye of the beerholder.

And increasing with every sip, eh?

 

[bnichols23]

Is that like a dromedary zuludesiandog 90004?

DangIfIKnow. He'd said he didn't like Rhodesians, & as it happened I had this one on the way from SPC at the time. It's funky looking enough & the timing was as opportune as it gets, so.....

 

[mikethompson]

DangIfIKnow. He'd said he didn't like Rhodesians, & as it happened I had this one on the way from SPC at the time. It's funky looking enough & the timing was as opportune as it gets, so.....

Bill what is going on with the stem? Is that extra bump in there for a filter or???

Nice pipe by the way!