Who is the Greatest Living Artisan Pipe Maker?

[Mike N]

New edit: Thread locked by me prematurely; now open.

Mike N.: Have you introduced yourself? Not required, but often helpful. Also, location is "a good thing".

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, but I’m interested in who the pipe smokers here believe is the greatest living artisan pipe maker.

Several names come to mind, but one name stands out for me: Yiannos Kokkinos of Cyprus.

Yiannos’ work is best viewed on his Instagram account. A few American online pipe dealers sell his pipes, which don’t last long once offered.

Below are a few screen grabs of his work posted on his Instagram account.

Please post any pipe makers who you believe deserves this title.

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Just goes to show how subjective a question like this is.
I've never liked those Yiannos pipes.

Funny story - Columbus Pipe Show, 2018 I think. Was doing a "one final lap" around the show room before leaving. One of the vendors (some older gentleman with a beard and fishing vest amirite) (jk sort of) said hello whilst my lady friend and I had stopped to look at a pipe on his table.

This horrific pipe was a rather large, long shanked number with random splotches of rustication and blue-green stain. In my mind I was thinking "what a nightmare".

The vendor (whose name I know not - wish I could remember precisely what he looked like) says, "If you can tell me the maker of that pipe, you can have it".
In my mind I was thinking "no thanks", but free is free right?

Just so happens a couple months prior I had begun following a pipe maker who often showed such monstrosities. I blurted out, "That guy from Greece, Yiannos Kookynose?"

The look on the vendors face was priceless. He quickly backtracked and stammered his way into muttering something like "so I'll give it to you at a 50% discount".

I was so taken aback by his blatant lie that I just said "no thanks", grabbed my girls hand, and walked away.

 

[ashdigger]

Beauty is definitely in the eyes of the beholder, and sometimes the beholder is blind

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Beauty is definitely in the eyes of the beholder, and sometimes the beholder is blind

There's actually a blind man in our pipe club - Larry.
Larry wasn't always visually impaired- I believe he was 6 or 7 when it happened.

He's picky about his pipes though. He'll turn them over and over in his hands, exploring every curve and crannie. He'll ask what color it is, but beyond that he knows what he is "looking" for.
I must say, I'm impressed with his taste and "eye" for detail.

 

[AroEnglish]

Just goes to show how subjective a question like this is.
I've never liked those Yiannos pipes.

Funny story - Columbus Pipe Show, 2018 I think. Was doing a "one final lap" around the show room before leaving. One of the vendors (some older gentleman with a beard and fishing vest amirite) (jk sort of) said hello whilst my lady friend and I had stopped to look at a pipe on his table.

This horrific pipe was a rather large, long shanked number with random splotches of rustication and blue-green stain. In my mind I was thinking "what a nightmare".

The vendor (whose name I know not - wish I could remember precisely what he looked like) says, "If you can tell me the maker of that pipe, you can have it".
In my mind I was thinking "no thanks", but free is free right?

Just so happens a couple months prior I had begun following a pipe maker who often showed such monstrosities. I blurted out, "That guy from Greece, Yiannos Kookynose?"

The look on the vendors face was priceless. He quickly backtracked and stammered his way into muttering something like "so I'll give it to you at a 50% discount".

I was so taken aback by his blatant lie that I just said "no thanks", grabbed my girls hand, and walked away.

Great story. I hate when people people don’t honor their word. Just say, “Can you guess who made this pipe?”

 

[bluegrassbrian]

Great story. I hate when people people don’t honor their word. Just say, “Can you guess who made this pipe?”

I'm sure he assumed I wouldn't have a clue, and his proposal was completely off the cuff without giving it any thought.

 

[AroEnglish]

I'm sure he assumed I wouldn't have a clue, and his proposal was completely off the cuff without giving it any thought.

Fair enough.

 

[woodsroad]

Greatest living pipemaker?
With my luck, I’ll give you a list of five names and they’ll all be dead by tomorrow morning.

 

[solideogloria86]

Based on tenure, influence, skill, and contribution to the craft, I'd say Tom Eltang. If it was strictly about who I think makes the prettiest pipes, I'd probably pick someone else, but I don't think that constitutes greatness in a craft.

 

[sablebrush52]

I'm sure he assumed I wouldn't have a clue, and his proposal was completely off the cuff without giving it any thought.

In other words, he’s a douche.

 

[sablebrush52]

The short answer is nobody.
Everyone has their own favorites.

 

[greeneyes]

I met Yiannos Kokkinos just now at the Chicago Show. I'm very traditional in my tastes so I don't own pipes with such modern designs. But he was a very, very nice fellow.

 

[smudgersmissingleg]

When it comes to gourd calabashes it has to be Baki. He makes some beautiful bashes. I like Ian Walker's work as well. Reasonably priced, too.

 

[RustiePyles CPG]

I’m not sure thats a title that can be bestowed. There are many incredibly talented pipe makers carving pipes today. If I were to vote for MY favorites it would be Michael Parks or Jesse Jones.

Tom Eltang is probably the most recognized though.

 

[elvishrunes]

I don’t really care for most high end artisan pipes although there might be a gem once and while that catches my eye. I’d say Ardor consistently makes the nicest pipes I’ve seen, and they aren’t top of market price wise either, though not factory prices. IMO Neerup makes the nicest lower end priced artisans. He machines the bowl, then custom carves, stains, metal, and does stems custom too.

 

[Peterson314]

I'll fight anyone who says it ain't Andy G.

 

[AroEnglish]

I'll fight anyone who says it ain't Andy G.

View attachment 244677

Sounds like most of us should get our fists out

 

[telescopes]

I agree, it is in the eye of the beholder. The challenge with "Who is the greatest?" is it begs the question, "What do you mean by greatest? Usability, practicality, functional design that serves the purpose of smoking, a combination of all of the preceding, or just expressionistic looks?

Another question, going back to usability, is the question of will the pipe work as a smoker, both in public and in private. Any pipe that makes the smoker look "silly" and I use that word purposefully given that I don't care about looking "silly" in public (to some extent - I do have my limits) is an important consideration for me.

The famous picture, "This is not a Pipe" comes to mind. When I am smoking in public, I don't want the pipe to be so outlandish in how it looks and functions that it is not clear that I am in fact, smoking a pipe. (Not something that says, "This is not a pipe - it is the abstract idea of everything a pipe is")

 

[UB 40]

I don’t know who is greatest, several out there know the art of pipe making. Take a look at Hartmut Heckmann: Hartmut Heckmann, Handmade Pipes, handgemachte Pfeifen, Freehands, deutscher Pfeifenmacher, Ewighausen, Westerwald, Deutschland, - https://www.hh-pipes.com

 

[UB 40]

Who is Andy G.?