Viktor Yashtylov Smooth Potato Sack Estate Briar Pipe, Other Estates

Description

Much like London, Saint-Claude, Copenhagen, Pesaro, and Tokyo before it, Saint Petersburg emerged, in the later decades of the 20th century, as one of the powerhouses of high-grade pipes—especially high-grade artisan pipes. Commentators sometimes speak of a “Saint Petersburg school” in this regard, which includes figures such as Vladimir Grechukhin, Sergey Dyomin, Alexander Tupitsyn, and, of course, Viktor Yashtylov. Yashtylov rose in the ranks of the international artisan scene not only due to his profound skill and artistry, but also because of his inventiveness, crafting distinctive, novel designs (even against the backdrop of the great Danish carvers) and incorporating wildly unconventional materials, such magnetic fitments, into his work.

Those unfamiliar with the history of post-war pipe design may be wondering what on earth a “potato sack” is. That’s fair. The simple answer is that it is a pipe shape whose looks—as might be expected—like a hanging sack of vegetables. While on paper that might not sound very appealing, it would turn out to be one of the iconic motifs in artisan pipes since its invention by Sixten Ivarsson in (I think) the 1950s. Over the years, many artisans have paid tribute to Ivarsson’s fascinating designs, from Jorgen Larsen to Chris Askwith, and here we find Viktor Yashtylov doing much the same. I must say, Yashtylov’s is one of the most idiosyncratic renditions I’ve seen, and could perhaps be described as a “speeding potato sack” (another adjective commonly used in contemporary pipe design), owing to its palpable sense of momentum. It is a highly unique piece, that’s for certain, but this uniqueness hasn’t side-tracked Yashtylov from making sure to foreground the briar’s superb flame grain and bird’s-eye patterns, which are brought out beautifully by a golden contrast stain. As I mentioned in a Grechukhin listing a while ago, certain “geopolitical complications” have made getting one’s hands on pipes such as these very difficult in recent years, making this one a rare treat for me to examine up close, and for whoever purchases it to attain it.

The condition is excellent. Near-mint.

 

Details:

Length: 5.2″ / 132.0mm

Bowl Width: 0.77 / 19.55mm

Bowl Depth: 1.10″ / 27.94mm

Weight: 1.2oz / 36g