K. Anastasopoulos 2017 GKCPC Reverse Calabash Estate Briar Pipe, Greek Estates

Description

Greek artisan Konstantinos “Kostas” Anastasopoulos was first drawn to pipe-making by a desire to modernize its forms, and thereby to create something more fitting for pipe smokers of his own generation. He first trained with fellow Greek master Kostas Gourvelos, before making a pilgrimage to Denmark, where he spent time further honing his skills under Tom Eltang, Poul Ilsted, Manduela Riger-Kusk, Nanna Ivarsson, Jens “Tao” Nielsen, and Hans “Former” Nielsen.

The defining advantage and the defining disadvantage of traditional calabash is its size. Calabashes are historically very large, because they need space for two chambers: one in the cap, where the tobacco is burned, and the other in the bowl, which is large enough to help smoke cool as it passes through the pipe. Working a calabash system into a briar pipe is difficult (though not impossible) if you carve it the same way you would a typical gourd calabash, i.e., with a second chamber inside the bowl. But there is another way to make a briar calabash, which involves housing the second chamber within the shank. That is exactly how a “reverse calabash” pipe is made, and that’s what this Kostas Anastasopoulos pipe is. Aside from this additional feature, it’s also a very nice pipe, with a partial, vermiculated rustication reminiscent of—though distinct from—the rusticated finishes used by Danish carvers such as Tom Eltang, Mike Sebastian Bay, or Johannes “Suhr” Rasmussen. This particular pipe was also the 2017 pipe of the year for the Greater Kansas City Pipe Club.

The condition is great. Minor inner rim darkening.

 

Details:

Length: 5.2″ / 132.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.74 / 18.79mm

Bowl Depth: 1.41″ / 35.81mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 42g