Smokingpipes Daily Reader

Introducing Andrey Grigoriev

June 3, 2021 by Truett Smith

2 Comments

An engineer by trade, Andrey Grigoriev has been fascinated with creative processes and with understanding the inner workings behind an object's function ever since his father gave him a carving knife at eight years old. As a student, Andrey began smoking a pipe in the early 2000s and was immediately drawn to the inherent balance of function and art in pipe making, carving ... Read More

Ardor: Creative Vigor in Any Language

May 14, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

5 Comments

The word ardor signifies vigor, energy, and transitory warmth, all appropriate for a brand with the creative design stylings and impressive smoking properties of Ardor pipes. However, as compatible as the name is with the smoking instruments developed and executed by the Rovera family for the past four generations ... Read More

Introducing Luiz Lavos

May 6, 2021 by Truett Smith

2 Comments

Regardless of their medium, artists share a need to create and a desire to intentionally and skillfully manipulate form and color in fashioning an object of beauty. Artistic minds also rarely limit themselves to one medium; different materials offer unique means of artistic expression, and while an artist may have a primary focus, the most inventive pursue multiple creative endeavors. Luiz Lavos is one such artist, and his hobbies and interests ... Read More

Introducing Alexander Hasty

April 22, 2021 by Truett Smith

3 Comments

One does not simply ease into artisan pipe making; it's an all-or-nothing endeavor. The start-up cost is a hurdle in and of itself, even a simple design requiring specific tools and machines, not to mention the time invested in learning to safely and skillfully operate said instruments. ... Read More

Italian Leatherwork at its Best: Claudio Albieri

April 16, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

7 Comments

Pipes are of relative insignificance to the bustling world at large, and the number of pipe enthusiasts is unlikely ever to rival the fans of, say, mountain unicycling, cheese rolling, or, and this is real, bog snorkeling. Basically, our hobby is almost unknown except by those who learn to understand it and graduate the initial learning curve to achieve pipe smoking's contemplative benefits. ... Read More

Jared Coles: From Pipe Kits to Artisan Masterpieces

April 9, 2021 by Chuck Stanion

6 Comments

Maybe there's something about working with three-dimensional forms that attracts brilliant minds. Or maybe three-dimensional forms generate brilliance in those who work with them. Either way, smart people think in three dimensions. Look at Michelangelo. Look at Leonardo da Vinci. Smart guys. ... Read More

The History of Pipe Design: Denmark

March 12, 2021 by Truett Smith

14 Comments

As we've discussed in previous installments of The History of Pipe Design series, briar pipe making began in France before spreading to England, Italy, and elsewhere across Europe — including Denmark. English pipes in particular were popular among Danish pipe smokers through the initial decades of the ... Read More

All Pipes Considered: J. Alan Jess Tribute Pipes

November 16, 2020 by Shane Ireland

1 Comment

On this special episode of All Pipes Considered, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jeff Gracik of J. Alan Pipes to discuss the Jess Chonowitsch tribute pipes he made for us recently on commission. ... Read More

All Pipes Considered: Jeff Gracik and Ping Zhan

August 6, 2020 by Shane Ireland

On this special episode of All Pipes Considered, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jeff Gracik of J. Alan Pipes and Ping Zhan to discuss the two carvers' latest collaboration sets. Four years in the making, these amazing sets represent not only the artisans' influences and signature style, but their longstanding friendship ... Read More

BriarWorks: The Handcrafted Factory Pipe

July 17, 2020 by Chuck Stanion

16 Comments

BriarWorks is a company dedicated to producing very high-quality pipes at affordable prices. Those are not easily combined elements, and it took enormous effort and expertise to achieve that goal. It was an idea that had been evolving for years in the mind of Todd Johnson, a world-class pipe maker who is accustomed to making ideas reality. ... Read More

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