When Less is More... a.k.a. Minimalism in the PipeWorld

[georged]

With pipes, the Minimalist concept of stripping a design down to its bare essentials, and casting aside any elements that do not contribute to the beauty or function of an object or space, can be expanded to include materials.

In this case, a flaw-free piece of briar.

This pipe doesn't have flashy grain---straight, birdseye, or something unusual enough to be noteworthy---just full coverage and good density. It's simply solid and "pure". Briar at its functional optimum.

And the design itself couldn't be less flashy or more functional: Two cylinders of the right proportions (the bowl is actually slightly conical, but that's an optical-trick thing), with a simple, blade-style, uber-comfortable stem.

The end.

Even the stamping is only maker, shape number, and grade. In plain block letters.

I really like this pipe.

 

[georged]

 

[FurCoat]

It's a beauty.

 

[Servant King]

I admire anyone who touts minimalism these days. It flies in the face of every aspect of modern society (a noble enough attribute in itself), but that's not primarily why I admire it. Rather, because it elucidates absolute, pure contentment with whatever it is, just the way it is. That's something that's difficult to attain these days--the irony of materialism is that, inexplicably, it never really results in that feeling of contentment, of satisfaction, of appreciation of the thing. This irony, to me, is the origin of "less is more."

Oh, and the pipe is nice too.

 

[brian64]

the irony of materialism is that, inexplicably, it never really results in that feeling of contentment, of satisfaction, of appreciation of the thing.

Yes, and that is expressed by the disposable nature of so many consumer goods.

 

[brian64]

Particularly with meers, I usually feel like less is more:



But occasionally I appreciate something more complicated:

 

[ssjones]

Savinelli Giubileo d'Oro pipes seem to punch way above their pay grade. I particularly like their vulcanite, no filter stems and buttons, also an economy of form.

 

[ssjones]

One of my G-D'o's

904

 

[didimauw]

I love my Punto Oro pipes. The Giubileo D'oro is next on my list!

However that took me longer to type than I wanted. GDO from now on.

 

[didimauw]

What's the story on this one? Yours? Where'd it come from? Keeping it? Inquiring minds and all...

 

[sasquatch]

One of the things I fight as a pipemaker is guys who bring 350 ideas, all of which are good ideas on their own, into their commission. Sandblast, but smooth rim, contrasting band on the stem, probably cumberland, etc and it just gets ugly so fast. I call it the Macaroni Art school of pipe design. If something looks good, two of it must necessarily look better.

Plain and perfect wins every time. But that's very difficult on a pipe by pipe basis.

 

[Briar Lee]

It cost $7 and $6 to ship it from France to Missouri, but working late tonight nothing tastes any better than Sutliff Crème Brûlée in this totally unmarked, presumably French, well made and tightly grained chunky fat Billiard.


Is a Billiard easier to make than a Poker?

I might own three Pokers and too many Billiards to count.

 

[didimauw]

One of the things I fight as a pipemaker is guys who bring 350 ideas, all of which are good ideas on their own, into their commission. Sandblast, but smooth rim, contrasting band on the stem, probably cumberland, etc and it just gets ugly so fast. I call it the Macaroni Art school of pipe design. If something looks good, two of it must necessarily look better.

Plain and perfect wins every time. But that's very difficult on a pipe by pipe basis.

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This is what I like. Simple. Basic. Beautiful. I don't want bling, crazy curves, or the like.

 

[TexJake]

Those are great photos of a great looking pipe. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Swiss Army Knife]

I've been a professional in the design world for over a decade and I'm sick of minimalism. What was once cutting the fat has turned in to a crutch for too many designers. Myself included.

As nice as a simple pipe is this is the kind of stuff that takes my breath away nowadays.






I say bring back ornamentation! I wanna see gilt, motifs, florals and baroque lines! I want to feel like Captain Nemo when I pick up my pipe.

 

[georged]

What's the story on this one? Yours? Where'd it come from? Keeping it? Inquiring minds and all...

Back in the 1980's I got to know the Savinelli rep for the Western US states while living in Arizona, and he'd ring me to meet him at the first B&M on his list each time he got a new Batch 'O Stuff.

I got to cherry pick Golden Jubilees, in other words.

This is one of those. The minimalist Spartan Thing talked to me even then.

FWIW, the new Savinelli operation is decidedly not the same as the old one. What was once best described as Old School family business values has been replaced by hype-ish advertising, cost accountants, and the bar lowered detectably when it comes to workshop talent/skill/craftsmanship.

What else is new, right?

 

[georged]

I've been a professional in the design world for over a decade and I'm sick of minimalism. What was once cutting the fat has turned in to a crutch for too many designers. Myself included.

As nice as a simple pipe is this is the kind of stuff that takes my breath away nowadays.

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I say bring back ornamentation! I wanna see gilt, motifs, florals and baroque lines! I want to feel like Captain Nemo when I pick up my pipe.

Thats a bit of an apples vs. oranges argument. Meers like those are definitely eye-catching, but they're also impractical as frequent-use smokers.

I say let the MISSION determine the optimum design, and work back from there.

 

[Briar Lee]

For handmade pipes, I’ve always considered the typical Danish Pickaxe Freehand to be the ultimate in functional minimalist design.

Most of them have a universal stem, like a Missouri Meerschaum.

The artisan choses a big plateaux of briar, hopefully well seasoned (but often not) and chases the grain. The chambers are hand cut to size, the pipe is drilled, and it can be sandblasted, rusticated, or left smooth as desired.

They are sort of an acquired taste in appearance, but might be the best smokers available, if you believe bigger briars smoke better.

 

[Swiss Army Knife]

Thats a bit of an apples vs. oranges argument. Meers like those are definitely eye-catching, but they're also impractical as frequent-use smokers.

I say let the MISSION determine the optimum design, and work back from there.


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Yeah in reality functional classic designs make up 95% of my pipe collection. I'm more just ranting about minimalism and the prevalence of flat design in general. Architecture's usually the worst in that regard.

 

[georged]

Yeah in reality functional classic designs make up 95% of my pipe collection. I'm more just ranting about minimalism and the prevalence of flat design in general. Architecture's usually the worst in that regard.

Sturgeon's Law applies to things WITHIN things... meaning that 90% of minimalist designs are crap.

In fact, in its case the percentage is probably higher, since minimalism is an obvious magnet for cost-cutting and refuge for people without talent & ideas.