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Greentree Tobacco Pipe Carving Contest Winners
By Robert “Bob” Anderson, contest judge
Greentree Tobacco held it first “carve your own” pipe
contest. Each participant purchased a raw block of brier to
create their own entry for the contest.
Brier which is used in the making of most pipes is from the
root of a Southern European evergreen shrub or tree. Brier
is very dense and hard, and may posses different grain
patterns which can add to the beauty of a pipe when
properly carved and finished.
The beauty of a pipe or the use ability of a pipe can be
summed up into different aspects including design and/or
shape, size, weight, balance, portability, color, grain,
ease of holding and/or setting down.
The five winners of this contest worked long and hard to
create pipes that are fully functional and unique and of
course very personalized. Each winner should be very proud
of their creation and should enjoy years of smoking
pleasure from their creations.
The following pipe enthusiasts participated and won in the
following categories that took into consideration size,
shape, grain, handling ability, workmanship, bowl to stem
ratio, fit and finish.
Mike Kramer’s entry won based on its light weight, a very
smooth finish, nice color and a very carry able design that
was very traditional in nature with an enhancement of a
silver band on the shank by the mouthpiece that would
re-enforce the mortise area to protect it from potential
damage. It is a pipe that one could carry in a suit pocket.
Stan Nigio’s design entry showed off the very beautiful
straight grain of the brier that he had chosen. The actual
design was a combination of classical and modern shape that
created a lighter then expected design with a smooth finish
while still giving the appearance of a large overall shape
around the bowl area. A big mans pipe with lots of eye
appeal.
Gary Gienier’s was perhaps the most artistic in concept of
design creating a very functional pipe that had great eye
appeal. Its design enabled one to keep the pipe in its
owner’s mouth due to its lightened weight and hold ability
created by the dramatic holes that would also aid in the
cooling of the smoke and the pipe. Although, the pipe to
stem ratio seemed long it did not detract from its esthetic
almost futuristic appearance. This was truly a work of art
and a sense of form enhancing function.
Dave Spector had a very elegant design utilizing both
smooth and ruff finish that was extremely comfortable to
hold in one hand but also in ones mouth, graceful shape and
contrasting color and the incorporation of a spacer and a
shank mortise of walnut fitted and shaped complementary to
the stem supplied. This was a pipe every one would take
pride of ownership in.
Ron Kuteibach using the basic simple shape of the raw block
of brier managed to create a very interesting pipe with a
smooth finish on the sides while adding to the natural
beauty. The ability to hold the pipe by having a thumb and
finger grooves located on it for a very natural comfortable
hold for a right handed smoker. The finger grooves
mirroring the top of the pipe itself. The large size
overall although not conducive to holding it in ones mouth
was however the best for being able to put the pipe down
with out benefit of ashtray or holder, it would just sit
upright.
Each winner received a special pipe from Greentree Tobacco,
manufactured by the “ Savinelli” pipe company.
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