Nathan Armentrout Asteroid Author, Handmade Briar Pipe, New

Description

Originally a science teacher in California, Nathan Armentrout began making pipes in 2009 and has since emerged as one of North America’s most talented, high-grade artisan pipe-makers. Inspired by Denmark’s legendary carvers, Nathan’s designs continue the legacy of the Danish pipe-making movement into the present day and expand that legacy through his own unique interpretations of the masters of old.

This year, I was particularly pleased that MBSD was the first vendor to carry Nathan Armentrout’s new ‘Asteroid’ finish pipes. They sold very quickly, so of course I asked if Nathan would send us more. Regarding the finish itself: while most pipe-makers will try to craft and finish a sandblasted pipe so that the natural patterns of the briar wrap around the bowl in tight, horizontal rings – what’s commonly known as ring grain – Nathan has instead focused on what can be done with both grain rings and bird’s-eye figures, which are often neglected or avoided in sandblasted pipes. This way, in Nathan’s words, the blast looks like the ‘cratered terrain of an asteroid,’ which, fittingly, Nathan pairs with unconventionally stony stains. This Asteroid is a fairly traditional author shape – Nathan refers to it as more like a ‘comet,’ given the soaring plasma trail its bright ebonite stem mimics.

 

Details:

Length: 5.2″ / 132.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.75 / 19.05mm

Bowl Depth: 1.22″ / 30.98mm

Weight: 1.4oz / 42g