Andrey Kharitonov Smooth Faceted Brandy Estate Briar Pipe, Other Estates

Description

Andrey Kharitonov is, to my eye, one of the most innovative artisans in pipe-making today. Born in 1961 in the former Soviet Union, Kharitonov’s work has been inspired by a number of his compatriots in the artisan scene, such as Viktor Yashtylov, Misha Revyagin, and Alexey Kharmalov. Like the latter, Kharitonov frequently experiments with novel shapes, textures, and stains, creating pipes that are instantly recognizable as his making.

This particular Kharitonov is a little more conservative in design than I’m used to seeing from the Muscovite master, though given Andrey’s penchant for avant-garde, futurist creations, his “conservative” output is still thoroughly modern. To my eye, there’s more than a little Poul Ilsted in the use of facets on this oval shank brandy, who may well have served as an inspiration. Yet it is nonetheless very much a Kharitonov at heart. From its distinctive golden contrast stain to its seafoam ebonite stem, it would be hard to mistake this as belonging to anyone else.

The condition is near-mint. Smoked 2-3 times at most.

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.82 / 20.82mm

Bowl Depth: 1.37″ / 34.79mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 46g