2003 JT Cooke Sandblasted Large Lovat Estate Briar Pipe, American Estates

Description

J.T. Cooke is a Vermont-based American artisan carver with a number of impressive credentials under his belt. Cooke was originally based at Elliot Nachtwalter and Jeorg Jemelka’s The Briar Workshop, in a role which included making pipes for Wilke’s tobacconist in Philadelphia. After leaving the Workshop, Cooke collaborated with Barry Levin in establishing the estate pipes market as we know it, by restoring pipes for Levin’s outfit. During this time, Cooke would also begin to make pipes under his own name. Today, Cooke’s pipes are among the most sought after in the American artisan scene thanks to their distinct and often unparalleled shaping, engineering, and finishing.

Have you ever wondered how JT Cooke’s sandblasted pipes look the way they do? With those grooves etched deep into the briar, like mountain peaks and valleys? Part of it is obviously the quality of the briar, as well as the ability to select the most perfect blocks for the intended effect. But part of it is persistence. Since Cooke took up pipe-making full-time in 1999 (leaving behind his other work in repairs and estates ventures), Cooke began the experiments in finishing that have earned him such wide acclaim. Ultimately, Cooke devised a process whereby a given stummel would be sandblasted not once, not twice, but up to five times before it was ready for its final touches.

The condition is excellent. Some minor rim darkening.

 

Details:

Length: 6.4″ / 162.5mm

Bowl Width: 0.78 / 19.81mm

Bowl Depth: 1.76″ / 44.70mm

Weight: 2.3oz / 68g