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Long ago in Denmark, one marque introduced a precedent that would change the face of the serially produced pipe. This marque was Stanwell, and the precedent was simply that of asking skilled, independent pipe makers to design shapes for their standard lineup. It was a simple, yet ingenious idea, bringing a whole range of new designs and aesthetics to the marque, while strengthening the relationships between the pipe making factory and these notable, national carvers. In fact, it's because of this that such a large percentage of Stanwell's lineup was originally designed by one of the great, legendary pipe makers of the classic Danish school.
Over 60 years later, this precedent has once again cropped up — this time not in Denmark, but right here in the States. If you've been following our newsletters and blogs recently, you probably already know what we're talking about: it's BriarWorks' Signature Series. Pete Prevost and Todd Johnson started this line as a way of showcasing, and making more readily available, some of today's top carvers' most iconic signature shapes, offering them at prices well below what you might expect for one crafted by the commissioned artisan in question. But this is no mere iteration of the Stanwell tradition. Todd and Pete, being recognized, independent pipe makers themselves, hold a distinct advantage: they know the ins and outs of artisanal pipe making and know exactly how to adapt these signature designs into their own serially produced lineup, incorporating their own stylistic and process-driven cues while still holding true to the essence of the shape itself.
So far, this advantage has proven successful, ushering in iconic designs like Todd Johnson's Blowfish, Samurai Volcano, Magnetic Calabash, and Teardrop shapes. But until recently all of these Signatures were sourced internally, from within the BriarWorks team. All that changed earlier this year, when Todd and Pete asked Adam Davidson to make a prototype of his signature Fig for the series.
Smooth Fig with Silver (Adam Davidson handmade)
Adam produced his first Fig back in 2011: inspired and informed by the classic Cutty, but far more modern and organic in its overall form and composition. Since then, we've seen long-shanked versions, compact, chubby interpretations, and even the more asymmetrical variant come our way — each different from the last, yet all working within the same organic, yet Old World-inspired theme. It's become so popular, in fact, that we've even seen other independent artisans trying their hand at the iconic shape, paving the way for all sorts of "speeding," "standing," and "leaning" adaptations of the form. All that being said, it was certainly a natural choice for the first ever Signature Series design sourced from outside the BWI workshop. Which, of course, made Adam's response just as natural when he said, "yes."
BWI Signature Fig Form Study Prototype (by Adam Davidson)
In the months that followed, a block of briar was sent to Adam here in South Carolina and then sent back to Todd and Pete in Tennessee in a much different state than it started out. Rather than exploring stylistic flourishes, Adam decided to keep things minimalist and really encapsulate the shape in and of itself. Having shipped the prototype back to BriarWorks, all that was left to do was wait, until earlier this month when we released the first batch of Adam Davidson-designed Figs from BWI. From the high waistline and soft taper down to the base, to the slight foot along the heel and overall compact proportions, the BriarWorks Signature Series Fig holds quite true to Adam's original design, while still working cohesively within the BriarWorks' aesthetic.
Being the first Signature Series pipe to be sourced from outside the BWI team, the Adam Davidson designed Fig is only produced in limited runs, with each individual pipe bearing a corresponding production number — e.g. (1/100). This fifth installment of the BriarWorks' Signature Series is available on the site right now, dressed in a variety of finishes and accents. If you've ever wanted to try out an Adam Davidson Fig, you should head on over to BriarWorks' page and glance at some of these Figs for yourself. You're sure to be impressed; we know we are.
Tagged in: Adam Davidson Behind-The-Scenes BriarWorks Pipe Makers Pipe Making
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Comments
I would like to win one of these
@Maxie Blalock I see what you did there ;)