Artisan Made Pipes

As a guideline please bare in mind that what is termed "Artisan Made Pipes" has no bearing on implied quality(s) OF a pipe. By "Artisan" we mean just that, a pipe made by a single individual carver, or partners in the craft where crafting the pipe may be done by one individual and staining and finishing may be done by another.

Artisan pipes may be "hand made" (one at a time) or "machine made" where strummels and other parts are turned out and fitted together later or any combination thereof. Most pipes whether made by a factory or an artisan will be made using "machines" of some sort, lathes, drills drill presses and other machines which make labor intensive (time consuming) tasks easier and have little bearing on the quality(s) of the finished product.

Some factories employ standards and artisans which consistently manufacture fine quality smoking instruments, they are however what we would consider a "Factory Pipe" Dunhill Pipes are among the most collectible of Factory Pipes.

Language should mean something, and the difference between what people call a Factory Pipe and an Artisan Pipe with implicit statements of/about quality(s) and pedigree(s) have always bothered me. Let's please leave the Artisan category for true artisans.

kilted1