Mark Tinsky 1 Star Partially Sandblasted Bulldog Estate Briar Pipe, American Estates

Description

American artisan Mark Tinsky first came to prominence as a pipe-maker during the late 1970s, when he and Curt Rollar founded the appropriately named American Pipe Smoking Co. Tinsky and Rollar’s partnership continued until 1990, when the pair split amicably, with Tinsky retaining ownership of the company. In the early 21st century, Mark Tinsky began to carve pipes under his own name, while continuing to use the American name for his expanded venture into pipe-making supplies for the next generation of master artisans.

If I had to pick one word to describe Mark Tinsky’s work, it would be “refined.” Not in the sense that you have to be part of some fancy, members only country club to enjoy one, but in the sense that, after having emerged from a new wave of American freehand carvers, and having spent decades experimenting with various forms, he’s more or less zeroed in on a set of designs that he executes just flawlessly. This 1/8th bent bulldog is one of my favorites of his, especially with its mixed finish of crisp, ring grain and a cap-like smooth rim of pure bird’s-eye.

The condition is very good. Very minor inner rim darkening and slight handling marks.

 

Details:

Length: 5.8″ / 147.3mm

Bowl Width: 0.87 / 22.09mm

Bowl Depth: 1.34″ / 34.03mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 48g