Young carvers DO make old shapes

[georged]

There's a Greek guy named Chris Asteriou who started making pipes about six years ago as a hobby, and went full time last year when Greece's deteriorating economy made his day job untenable (he was/is an architect).
Let's see... young, artistic, innovative, and wanting to get noticed in the increasingly crowded artisan PipeWorld of the 21st century. A recipe for daring, swoopy designs, novel approaches, and ground-breaking materials, right?
Wrong. :lol:
He figured the best way was to demonstrate that he could take toughest pipes of all to make by hand---the unforgiving classics, where the slightest fudge in execution is glaringly obvious---and knock them out of the park.
Smart guy. The long time collectors and makers---people who understand the difficulty of not only every line having to be perfect individually, but their relationships and proportions perfect as well---can't stop talking about him. And staring at his work. :lol:
I managed to score one of his pieces at last week's Chicago show.
It might be the only pipe I've ever bought that I'll never smoke.

 

[sablebrush52]

What a pleasure to see this pipe. No flimflam. No bullshit. Just pure excellence in execution, walking the tightrope without a net. I first became aware of Chris Asteriou when Neill Archer Roan let me know that he had commissioned Chris to recreate one of the old Barling shapes that Neill has seen in the WW1 era Barling catalog that I had restored and published. Clearly Neill knew what he was doing.

 

[jkrug]

That is a very good looking pipe for sure. A very sharp and "clean" look to it. I personally would have a hard time not smoking the heck out of it. Enjoy.

 

[lostandfound]

Too true. I would have to smoke that pipe. It would become an integral part of my rotation in a heart beat.

 

[georged]

I first became aware of Chris Asteriou when Neill Archer Roan let me know that he had commissioned Chris to recreate one of the old Barling shapes that Neill has seen in the WW1 era Barling catalog that I had restored and published.

For those who missed it:
http://www.apassionforpipes.com/neills-blog/2014/6/17/on-liverpools.html

 

[peckinpahhombre]

Gorgeous pipe, George. He has been on my short list for some time. I am hunting for one of his chubby rhodesians, and unfortunately he didn't have one of those at Chicago

 

[brass]

Not smoking this pipe means that it will not full-fill it's destiny.

 

[drezz01]

Beautiful looking piece and a great read. As a fellow architect I can't wait to get my hands on one of Chris Asteriou's pipes! It will be some time before that happens unfortunately.
You've got a great looking pipe there but architects tend to believe in the marriage of form and function. I think Chris would want you to smoke it :puffpipe: though I can certainly understand your hesitation!

 

[papipeguy]

That is a magnificent looking pipe. It's great example of the beauty in simplicity.

 

[settersbrace]

As Sable said, "pure excellence in execution". Couldn't have said it better myself. For this young man to have the ability to see past the attraction to take his creative ability into the world of freestyle, freehand carving and actually give the people what they want is genius. I've never had the desire to actually commission a pipe until I saw this thread, now I'm seriously considering making on of his pipes, mine. Absolutely stunning.

 

[cigrmaster]

I love that pipe as I am someone who loves the traditional shapes. The grain on that pipe is spectacular, the stem work looks very well done, and most of all the shaping is top notch.
I honestly believe that if you do not fulfill that pipes destiny, the pipe Gods will reign down fire and brimestone upon you and your other pipes. That gorgeous piece of wood is begging to be smoked, please for the love of God, don't do this to that perfect looking Billiard. :crying:
I think we should take a poll on who believes this pipe needs to be smoked. If at the end of the poll, the yay's have it, then George will have to smoke it. Who is with me?
Yay is what I vote. Oh by the way George, you can vote too if you like. :rofl:

 

[sablebrush52]

:puffpipe:I find it amusing how terrified some pipers act at the mention of not smoking a pipe. The word "destiny" keeps cropping up like some proclamation by Darth Vader. Pipe + fire = destiny. Rubbish. What someone wants to do with their personal possessions is their personal business. :puffpipe:

 

[pruss]

if only that shank was a couple inches longer...
Lovely pipe. I saw Chris' work in Chicago last year and was blown away.
He did a reverse calabash author in 2013 that lights my, and I'm pretty sure Al's, fire.
http://static.wixstatic.com/media/5a7e64_ab258981d35640719e0f1a5baa902e39.jpg_srb_p_600_585_75_22_0.50_1.20_0.00_jpg_srb
-- Pat

 

[cigrmaster]

saddle, I hope you did not think I was serious. People should always do what they want with their pipes. I know you have a few unsmoked older Barlings that I totally understand why you would not smoke them. The pipe in this thread is so pretty that I could see not wanting to smoke it. Imagine one day if Chris becomes like another Jess and you have a 7 day set of unsmoked pipes from him, that could be one hell of an investment.

 

[georged]

The pipe in this thread is so pretty that I could see not wanting to smoke it. Imagine one day if Chris becomes like another Jess and you have a 7 day set of unsmoked pipes from him, that could be one hell of an investment.

I'm not a pipe trader in any capacity (I've sold maybe 5 in my life. The ones I no longer smoke get traded or are given as gifts), so I never thought of the investment angle until you mentioned it.
It is indeed possible that Chris is on track to be a Very Big Deal in the PipeWorld. He has it all: aesthetic sensibility, impeccable craftsmanship, time (he's both young and pipemaking is his job), DIRECT access to wonderful Grecian briar, intelligence, drive, and a soft-spoken, humble manner that speaks volumes about his willingness to listen and learn from the masters. In fact, I think it is far more likely that he will become a VBD than not.
That said, my reluctance to smoke the pipe comes only from not wanting to CHANGE what I see now, not potentially make a profit. I'm one of the most driven perfection-chasers you'll ever meet---absolutely obsessed with achieving it---and having found an example "in the wild" (it's the closest thing to Classic shape pipemaking perfection I've seen yet), I'm loathe to alter it. The thought makes a screeching noise in my head like fingernails on a blackboard. I want it to last, not disappear. Such a reaction is wholly illogical, of course, but there you go. (There's nothing logical about perfection-chasing). :lol:

 

[mcitinner1]

George, the photos of your shop told me all I needed to know to understand you are somewhat of a perfectionist. Then you made me a perfect stem, thanks guy.

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Gorgeous pipe!!!

 

[gloucesterman]

There are some things so close to perfection they should be preserved. That pipe is certainly one of them. I can easily see why you wouldn't want it altered in any way. I wish you many years of viewing pleasure. For a guy that's as good as you are at restorations, it should be great inspiration.

 

[ssjones]

I think Chris is on track to the the next "Big Deal". I've been following his work from the get-go. I was hoping that he and Neill could work out a deal for a Passion for Pipes POY, but by that time, Chris' costs had risen beyond what Neill thought he could make work. I do love this reverse calabash Author, the shaping and stain are mind-blowing. Neills standard Author is even nicer.

 

[mcitinner1]

That is a gorgeous pipe that Chris made. While I do understand wanting to keep a beautiful pipe in pristine condition, I'd want one of his pipes I can smoke too.
I love the look of the Author shape. I have several 320's and two Grabow Golden Dukes and they smoke great as long as you don't try to clench them. Maybe some can clench them, but I can't. Like George mentioned, the 320 EX he made a custom stem for is too heavy to clench through an entire bowl.