Steve Liskey Swimming Bamboo Blowfish, Estate Briar Pipe, American Estates

Description

Steve Liskey is an American artisan from California’s San Bernadino County. Having originally studied pipe-making under Jeff ‘J. Alan’ Gracik and Todd Johnson, Liskey achieved renown in the modern American high-grade scene thanks to his artistic inclinations in pipe design, as well as his skillful blending of American, Danish, and Japanese traditions.

As I’ve said in other high-grade listings, bamboo is not an easy material to work with. But, if a pipe-maker is able to properly apply this material, it can make way for avenues in design that would otherwise be impossible (or would at least require tools not available to most). This blowfish, from Californian Steve Liskey, shows one thing that bamboo is particularly good for: introducing curves where they could not ordinarily be. In this instance, the introduction, by way of bamboo, of gentle bends along the pipe’s horizontal axis gives the impression of movement. In other words, and fittingly, it makes this blowfish look as though it is “swimming.” At a mere 30 grams in overall weight, the pipe may feel as much too. At any rate, it will be a more than easy clencher.

The condition is great. There’s some darkening on the rim’s beveled back lip, but that’s nothing beyond a cosmetic imperfection.

 

Details:

Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm

Bowl Width: 0.70 / 17.78mm

Bowl Depth: 1.0″ / 25.40mm

Weight: 1.0oz / 30g