Pipe Tristan Sandblasted Apple Handmade Briar Pipe [SOLD OUT]

Description

Pipe Tristan is the name used by French artisan Tristan Lefebvre. Lefebvre is part of a new wave of up-and-coming hand made pipe carvers from the birthplace of briar, following in the footsteps of figures such as Alain Albuisson, Paul Lanier, and Pierre Morel Sr and Jr. Lefebvre credits a wide range of influences upon his pipe-making, such as modern greats from Italy and Denmark, such as Carlo Scotti’s Castello and Tom Eltang, as well as more unique sources of inspiration, such as the centuries-old hunting pipes native to Germany’s Bavarian region. As such, Tristan is equally at home crafting his own spin on the ’55,’ the hawbill, or the Danish Dublin as he is reviving the Ulmer Kloben – when he isn’t inventing his own shapes, that is.

I first encountered Pipe Tristan a few years ago when his pipes were first beginning to generate significant international attention. In the time since, Tristan has only become more renowned, with the sheer demand for his pipes allowing them to more than double in price. This one shows off Lefebvre’s more adventurous side, with a clear Danish avant-garde influence, but also something else that I find a little harder to describe. I’m actually reminded a little of Wolfgang Becker’s signature Wasp shape, but the flared stem and African blackwood shank ring on this one makes it even more like the eponymous vespid.

It’s a bold design, but I’d say Lefebvre pulls it off well. The slightly contrast-stained red-brown sandblast is complemented well by the camo-green ebonite, too.

Details:

Length: 6.5″

Bowl Width: 19.4mm

Bowl Depth: 1.45″

Weight: 1.6oz / 48g