New pipes!...New podcast!
The Demons are now available!!! This set of 50 pipes lay half made in Germany since the 60s. Same stock that Geist Haus came from. Those were very popular and went fast. Here are 10 sets of 5, stamped with the Monstrosity "M", demon set name and number. $100 each. Less for multiples. See individual shots in the Monstrosity gallery.
Virgin
Here's the very first Monstrosity pipe to be stamped "Virgin." No coloring. This is the natural color of the briar. Totally smooth with a few very small imperfections. These imperfections only add to it's character (imho) making it beautiful and something less than what one might expect from having such amazing straight grain to work with. Other folks might have decided to chase those blemishes making a very different shape altogether. I like this one just like it is.
Speaking of imperfections, the delrin tenon is fused not only to the ebonite stem, but also to the twine and bamboo adornment. I say adornment because this was NOT an attempt at making a bamboo shank for this pipe. I've made "normal" bamboo shanks before and will do so again.
This piece of bamboo cracked during some experimenting I was doing that was unrelated to this piece. When that happened, I decided to spit it in two and see if I could somehow use it in the future. When this pipe came about, I got the idea of using the warm earthy twine along with the yellowed bamboo that had been sitting around for quite a while, and forging some sort of connection between them to yield something unique. I love the way the colors all work together. As a sitter, when this pipe is balanced on your table, it's quite beautiful. There will be more in the un-numbered virgin series, but this is the first to come about. A lovely, gritty site. $200 (more photos in the Monstrosity section.)
Spindle Legged Spiders!
#1 of 5 in the series, legend has it, ok, so this isn't really a legend since the peasant this happened to and the witch in the story both live within a dragon's throw of the OomPalace, but still...A kindly pipe smoking peasant was minding his own business, harvesting a tomato crop, when he felt a sting on his neck. Being spring, he thought it was likely a wasp or the like, but no such luck. It was the 5 legged spider. He immediately went to his witch friend who lived on the other side of the thicket (my kids call it a forest, but I think it's a thicket by most standards.) When she heard that it was the 5 legged spider, she was furious. This same nasty creature bit her just weeks before and man, how annoying!
She followed the peasant man back to the scene, and there he was. The multi colored, very dangerous, full of spite and rhetoric, 5 legged spider. The witch pulled out her magic wand which, to the peasant looked more like a hair brush, and she said spell, which, to the peasant sounded more like the chorus to a popular song. Immediately, the spider exploded! In it's place were five long, largish...things. Pipes! They were pipes! The peasant was so happy! Until he realized this all happened on my property giving me all rights to the entire happening, story line, plot, pipes, and any future stories that may spin off into Disney movies. So the witch was happy and went home. The peasant brought me the pipes and we worked out a deal.
Now you, yes you, can own one of the Spindle Legged Spider pipes. There are only 5. Each is stamped with the Monstrosity logo, year, series name, and individual number. Each shank is fashioned from a vintage thread spindle. Only numbers 1 and 5 are left in my stock. Good luck.
#5 of 5 in the series is pictured above. Let me know if you'd like to see more pics. $150 each shipping included.
La Petite Mort series is now SOLD OUT.
Latest podcast!
Episode #37
Chris Askwith
Young Gun from across the pond Chris Askwith is spreading magic with each and every pipe. Already Chris has a sincere and serious following. If you're not one of those with an Askwith in your collection or rotation, I hope you'll rectify that situation pronto. Click here to listen to the podcast or listen at your leisure by subscribing in iTunes.
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Poke Around
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