Eclesias Pipes “Dragon Scale” Natural Sandblasted Billiard Handmade Briar Pipe, New

Eclesias Pipes are made by Pavel Eclesias Holub, a Czech artisan and a genuine cult sensation in contemporary handmade pipes. Like his friend and former teacher, Jiřík ‘Biftek’ Maczko, Holub is one of the most prominent and recognizable figures in the Czech artisan community today, one that has become increasingly central in the broader European scene. Part of this no doubt comes down to his distinctive approach to the aesthetics of pipes, incorporating shapes and finishes that are, at times, singularly “Czech” and, at others, entirely of his own making. One group of pipes Pavel Holub is especially renowned for is his sandblasted pieces—and none more so than his “Dragon Scale” sandblasts. Not unlike certain artisans in America, such as J.T. Cooke, or Lee Von Erck, Holub will often put a single pipe through the sandblasting process countless times, in the pursuit of a jagged, ringed relief that straddles the line between a “pure” sandblast and a kind of pneumatic rustication. In the case of this pipe, the Holub’s signature finish has been applied in a quite uncommon way, even for his output. While Holub tends toward contrast finishes, this billiard has been left with a near-naked, natural sandblast, allowing the bowl to develop its own undertones from the smoke that passes through it.   Details: Length: 5.5″ / 139.7mm Bowl Width: 0.78 / 19.81mm Bowl Depth: 1.35″ / 34.29mm Weight: 1.1oz / 32g