Undeniably Art

[drastic_quench]

Behold:
Kent Rasmussen Partially Rusticated Freehand Pipes at Smoking Pipes .com

Even if your ideal briar pipe is a smooth walnut-colored straight billiard, you've got to admit that this pipe transcends pipe-as-a-smoking-tool and is redoubtably art. Not that billiards can't be considered art by some, but this freehand could easily be displayed as sculpture in an art gallery.

So, post links or pictures to pipes that you think are art - however you define it.

[juni]

Anything by Yashtylov:

pipeatelier.fotoplenka.users.photofile.ru/photo/pipeatelier.fotoplenka/140447634/150475703.jpg

(oops, can't post links or images )

[MarkC]

Originally Posted by drastic_quench

Behold:
Kent Rasmussen Partially Rusticated Freehand Pipes at Smoking Pipes .com

Wow. Judging by my pipe rack, I'm normally pretty conservative when it comes to pipe shapes, but that is breathtaking.

[levallois]

Not my cup of tea, but obviously made by someone with incredible talent and skill.

[indigosmoke]

Great idea for a thread. I think I prefer the more traditional shapes for smoking, but I'd love to have these on the shelf to admire.

This Nautilus, a Bo Nordh design executed by Peter Heeschen:



And this one, Sio-Yaki (Speared Fish), by Kei'Ichi Gotoh:

[StufnPuf]

I saw that pipe from the OP yesterday and couldn't stop staring...also couldn't stop thinking that more carvers should be producing shapes like this.

[IrishCamel81]

Every monday and Thursday I wait for pics of smokingpipes.com's new arrivals.

[Z.Kramer]

Originally Posted by StufnPuf

...also couldn't stop thinking that more carvers should be producing shapes like this.

I think that is one of those "easier said than done" things.

[Pipe Organist]

I saw some really unusual shapes at the Columbus show back in August (my first pipe show!).

Although I truly admire the detail and craftsmanship involved, I suspect that pipes like the "speared fish" shown below are possible because of more and more high tech tools available.

On the other hand, nothing beats a traditional shape that is well-carved and truly shows off the natural beauty of the wood, without novelty.

Gimme a traditional shape any day.

[Pugsley]

While I can appreciate the artistry and admire the superb craftsmanship I can't help but feel it's a waste of good briar to carve a pipe that will never be smoked.

[levallois]

Were pipes like the nautilus shape and the speared fish ever meant to be smoked? If you wanted to use them would they function like any other pipe?

John

[Commander Quan]

The Kent Rasmussen looks like something Willy Wonka would smoke out of, it's cool. The spearfish is amazing. I have never liked any of the bamboo pipes I have seen before, but that one blows me away.

[drastic_quench]

Originally Posted by Pugsley

While I can appreciate the artistry and admire the superb craftsmanship I can't help but feel it's a waste of good briar to carve a pipe that will never be smoked.

Originally Posted by levallois

Were pipes like the nautilus shape and the speared fish ever meant to be smoked? If you wanted to use them would they function like any other pipe?
John

They smoke. That's a huge part of the challenge. If they were just non-working show pipes, the designs would be entirely unconstrained. That's one of the things that I find so impressive about these highly stylized shapes: they still have to smoke.

From what I've read, I think a fair number of people who purchase these pipes do actually smoke them, rather than just display them. For whatever reason, smoking a pipe takes very little to nothing off of its estate value.