Moonlight Feather Carved Dublin Handmade Briar Pipe, New

Description

While some pipe-makers take inspiration from the natural world, or from the technologies of present and past, few of them in the contemporary seek to represent these forms in their work. Czech artisan Ondrej Bárta of Moonlight pipes does just that, in a way that recalls the intricate, figural carvings of briar pipes from the turn of the 20th century. But Ondrej also departs from the figural approach of early briar pipes by combining it with high-grade materials and a careful attention to grain patterns that is far more modern.

While briar pipe-makers take inspiration from various flora and fauna in their designs, one class of animals has historically been far more influential than others: birds. This is particularly true in Denmark, with the “peewit,” the “swan,” and the”egg” being significant, recurring motifs, not to mention the geese, grouses, owls, woodcocks, and others in Erik Nording’s Hunting series. This pipe, from Ondrej Bárta’s Moonlight make, follows in that tradition, but also continues another tradition, found most commonly in meerschaum pipes and very early briars, that of figural carving. A glance at this pipe’s side profile certainly evokes avian wildlife, thanks to a “ruffled” looking plateau rump and a craning curvature in its shank and stem. But a closer inspection reveals a detailed carving, running from the shanks underside up to the bowl’s front rim, mimicking the feathered breast and tail of such a bird. On a last note, the stain used for the pipe is quite striking, being a silvery blue hue. Paired with the pipe’s cumberland stem and shank plug, I found myself quite intrigued as to which bird (if any in particular) might have served as the model for Ondrej’s design. A water bird, to be sure – perhaps a moorhen? 

 

Details:

Length: 5.2″ / 132.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.80 / 20.32mm

Bowl Depth: 1.64″ / 41.65mm

Weight: 2.1oz / 62g