Pipe Tristan Smooth Swedish Bulldog Handmade Briar Pipe, New

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 southern 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.

Those who are not wholly versed in the Scandinavian pipe-making tradition – both in its origins and its more recent history – may be wondering what on earth a “Swedish Bulldog” is. I will try to summarize as briefly as possible. One of the godfathers of the Scandinavian pipe-making tradition was a Swede named Bo Nordh. It has long been established consensus that Nordh was among the greatest pioneers in modern pipe-making history, and his innovative designs, such as the Ramses, the Elephant’s Foot, and the Nautilus, soon became the staples of artisan pipe-making that they are today. One design that took far longer to catch on, however, was Nordh’s distinct interpretation of traditional bulldog shapes. Thanks to the efforts of Swedish masters Sara and Love Geiger, Nordh’s design was rescued from time, finding new life among the contemporary handmade scene under the name “BoDog.” This pipe, from Tristan Lefebvre, is his second tribute both to Nordh and to Geiger, featuring the shape’s signature oversized, saucer-like bowl and conical shank. This interpretation features a two-tone adornment at the end of the pipes shank, by way of a ring of African blackwood and an ivory-hued, army-style mount, made from Finnish Durat.

As for the name, as BoDog is something of a signature for Geiger Pipes, and because Tristan wanted to pay tribute to Nordh and Love and Sarah, calling this homages “Swedish Bulldogs” seemed very appropriate.

 

Details:

Length: 5.8″ / 147.3mm

Bowl Width: 0.71 / 18.03mm

Bowl Depth: 1.21″ / 30.73mm

Weight: 1.6oz / 48g