Smoke and Minds

For many years I have been interested in the importance and the meaning of desks.  In an optimally given situation, they are an expression of individuality while supporting one of the most relevant aspects of being a human – organization.  Similarly symbolic I like to rate personal vitrines. In them, we keep and organize things that are important to us. The protection and visibility provided by glass doors and walls give them yet another symbolic level. We keep in them what we wish to display, the person in us we wish to share.

In Parzival, the monumental verse novel written by Wolfram von Eschenbach, the knight and hero Parzival has a friend called Gawan. A knight himself, Gawan is given the choice between spending his life with a wife, who, intimately in his chambers is beautiful, while ugly to the rest of the world, or that is ugly when they are alone and intimate, while beautiful to all others who see her.

I view beauty as something that, because it is beautiful, is shared. Sharing is a quintessential reason for beauty. This is true in flora and animalia, often merely for procreation purposes. Amongst homo sapiens, however, arrogance leads to little sharing of the beauty bestowed upon us.

Herewith I gladly share (visually) a selection of the pipes I smoke.

Charles Courrieu – Vieille Bruyere – Cogolin, France

Charles Courrieu – Free Hand – Cogolin, France

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Dunhill – Bruyere – Prince, bent – MADE IN ENGLAND 5 – 5 – 2(circled) – A

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Ed Burak – Long oval shank canted pear – (1966-1974) – New York, USA

Ed Burak – Bent bell – (1981-2009) – New York City, USA

Ed Burak – Large Prince – New York City, USA

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GBD – Century – #1625 – London, England – 1950’s

GBD – Century – #1451 – London, England

GBD – Virgin Conquest Smooth Scoop – 1960S

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Hand Carved Mammoth – Ukraine

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Hardcastle – Camden – British Made – Made in London England – 91.

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Lorenzo – Connoisseur – 24 3N – Italy

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Mario Grandi – Eskimo

Mario Grandi – Fiammata

Mario Grandi –

Mario Grandi –

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Sasieni – Rustic –

Sasieni – Sashar – London Made – Made in England – 933

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Savinelli – Long John Smooth – 404 – Italy

Savinelli – Punto Oro – 904 – Italy

Savinelli – La Pipa – Apple – Italy – 2008

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Stanwell – Hand Made – Hand Cut – Reg. No. 969-48 – Selected Briar 06 – Denmark – 1948

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