Randy Wiley: Galleon Cherrywood (44) Tobacco Pipe

Randy Wiley's signature shaping style seems to nod more towards the Italian neoclassic style than the Danish or English, namely in the way he handles the distribution of visual weight in his designs. Such an approach was common during American pipe making in the 1970s, when Wiley began his carving career, and he often touches on this style in his work. Wiley's career began at the age of 25, carving pipes for a Florida-based manufacturer for two years before striking out on his own, coming to be known as one of the United States' most distinctive pipe makers. Wiley's Cherrywood renditions are almost universally robust, and this example is no exception, with a full-bodied bowl that stands sturdily atop a flattened heel. This heel supports the entire pipe easily, its slight angularity canting the cylindrical bowl forward gently. A wide, raised transition gives way to a comparatively sleek shank that's met by a sleek saddle stem of black acrylic, offering a comfortable smoking posture. Dressed in the Galleon rustication, much of the stummel showcases craggy texture, while the rim is finished smooth for handsome contrast.