2001 Steve Weiner XXL Rusticated Apple Estate Briar Pipe, American Estates

Description

Steve Weiner was an American artisan based in Cleveland, Ohio. While Weiner first began experimenting with pipe-making in 1989, his development as an artisan radically progressed after spending time learning from American master Mike Butera in the subsequent year. By 1994, he had won the coveted Pipe Maker of the Year award from the Conclave of Richmond Pipe Smokers (CORPS) – not once, but twice. Weiner established himself throughout the 1990s as one of America’s finest pipe-makers, with his sudden passing in 2002 being profound loss for the pipe community.

While it is not especially long, the extraordinarily broad bowl on this apple shape more than qualifies it for the extra-extra-large designation it bears. One consequence of this is that the chamber is also very wide, which should make it an ideal ribbon and mixture cut smoker. To return to the pipe’s aesthetic qualities, however, I’m always happy to have a pipe from someone like Steve Weiner or Mike Butera land on my desk. While so many American pipe-makers were heavily influenced by the Danish masters, figures like Weiner represent a different lineage, that of the intermingling of Italian styles (such as those of Castello or Becker) with American pipe-making. It’s a very personal reason to enjoy a pipe, sure, but variety is the spice of life.

The condition is very good. Some minor inner rim darkening and slight wear to the stem inlay.

 

Details:

Length: 6″ / 152.4mm

Bowl Width: 0.95 / 24.13mm

Bowl Depth: 1.43″ / 36.32mm

Weight: 2.7oz / 78g