Assembling the Pieces: Creating Harmony

[mredmond]

I think a flush fit saddle, like the first Florov would look good. The reason that it looks harmonious is because the lines of the shank extend into the stem saddle giving them a more natural terminus vs. creating a divide between the shank and stem where the lines suddenly stop. The contrast between the materials adds to that effect. The black of the stem is visually heavier than the stummel, and allowing the lines to continue through that weight gives the whole a sense of balance because the two heaviest elements are at opposite ends of the composition.

Now, whether or not you have big enough ebonite to do that is another story.

[Joe Hinkle Pipes]

maybe he just cut it too wide and didnt want to waste the ivory.

[wdteipen]

I like the relation between the bowl and shank. I find it very appealing. The only thing that bothers me about it is that you have a nice crisp line that runs the length and then you rounded off the rim. In my opinion, the rounded aesthetic doesn't harmonize well with the crisp edge. I think that if you lean organic as in rounded rims, crisp edges look very out of place and vise versa. You also have a hard transition visually where the shank meets the bowl. I like it but I think a break in the line at the shank end before the stem brings that end of the pipe into balance because it is another hard transition. The example wisemanpipes posted is too smooth and would leave your eye constantly going back to the hard transition at the bowl to shank junction. A hard transition between the shank and the stem will keep your eye moving from the bowl to the bit.

[d.huber]

I think a flush fit saddle, like the first Florov would look good. The reason that it looks harmonious is because the lines of the shank extend into the stem saddle giving them a more natural terminus vs. creating a divide between the shank and stem where the lines suddenly stop. The contrast between the materials adds to that effect. The black of the stem is visually heavier than the stummel, and allowing the lines to continue through that weight gives the whole a sense of balance because the two heaviest elements are at opposite ends of the composition.

Now, whether or not you have big enough ebonite to do that is another story.

Fantastic, Micah! I really appreciate your detailed explanation for why this option works in harmony with the composition. Great stuff!

[wdteipen]

I wrote my post while mredmond was writing his. Interesting that we come up with opposite thoughts here. Of course, I'm right but that's okay. Micah is entitled to be wrong every now and then.

[d.huber]

I like the relation between the bowl and shank. I find it very appealing. The only thing that bothers me about it is that you have a nice crisp line that runs the length and then you rounded off the rim. In my opinion, the rounded aesthetic doesn't harmonize well with the crisp edge. I think that if you lean organic as in rounded rims, crisp edges look very out of place and vise versa. You also have a hard transition visually where the shank meets the bowl. I like it but I think a break in the line at the shank end before the stem brings that end of the pipe into balance because it is another hard transition. The example wisemanpipes posted is too smooth and would leave your eye constantly going back to the hard transition at the bowl to shank junction. A hard transition between the shank and the stem will keep your eye moving from the bowl to the bit.

Great point, Wayne. Thank you! What do you think about keeping the rim round, but bringing the hard line over the rim, stopping at the uppermost part of the chamber? Would this work with the proposed stem options?

[LatakiaLover]

I agree with Jame. There's a disconnect between the shank & bowl in terms of mass/size. Everything's well cut and elegant as-is, but by the time it's fitted with a conventional stem the bowl will sort of disappear.

So, an idea from the Out of Left Field Department:

I think that pipe could look smashing as a semi-churchwarden. Or even a full-length one.

It would be a difficult stem to make, but done right you would end up with something truly memorable. So sinuous, elegant, and flowing it would be impossible to forget.

[d.huber]

I wrote my post while mredmond was writing his. Interesting that we come up with opposite thoughts here. Of course, I'm right but that's okay. Micah is entitled to be wrong every now and then.

Actually, I think you're both right. Here's why.

Micah is focusing on the shank to stem transition, which is the primary transition in question. You're focusing on the other end of the line, which none of us are paying attention to right now.

Both comments are moving the conversation forward and getting us closer to a harmonious composition. This is great!

[wdteipen]

I like the relation between the bowl and shank. I find it very appealing. The only thing that bothers me about it is that you have a nice crisp line that runs the length and then you rounded off the rim. In my opinion, the rounded aesthetic doesn't harmonize well with the crisp edge. I think that if you lean organic as in rounded rims, crisp edges look very out of place and vise versa. You also have a hard transition visually where the shank meets the bowl. I like it but I think a break in the line at the shank end before the stem brings that end of the pipe into balance because it is another hard transition. The example wisemanpipes posted is too smooth and would leave your eye constantly going back to the hard transition at the bowl to shank junction. A hard transition between the shank and the stem will keep your eye moving from the bowl to the bit.

Great point, Wayne. Thank you! What do you think about keeping the rim round, but bringing the hard line over the rim, stopping at the uppermost part of the chamber? Would this work with the proposed stem options?

As I envision what you're describing, it doesn't work for me. I think concave beveling the rim and leaving a crisp outer rim edge would look really sharp though.

[Ocelot55]

Whew! This is a tough one...

I automatically thought of a dome saddle, as suggested, but I think a flare could be done as well. The shank is so heavy that it will prove pretty challenging.

Ideas:
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/h ... t_id=77048
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/h ... t_id=69179
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/f ... _id=125444
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/f ... _id=113374

[d.huber]

I agree with Jame. There's a disconnect between the shank & bowl in terms of mass/size. Everything's well cut and elegant as-is, but by the time it's fitted with a stem the bowl will sort of disappear.

So, an idea from the Out of Left Field Department:

I think that pipe could look smashing as a semi-churchwarden. Or even a full-length one.

It would be a difficult stem to make, but done right you would end up with something truly memorable. So sinuous, elegant, and flowing it would be impossible to forget.

Interesting. So are you imagining a shank end like the ones that have been proposed plus a long stem? If so, what length are we talking about? In what way would this choice help to offset the issue you mentioned (the balance being thrown off once a shank end is added)?

[d.huber]

I like the relation between the bowl and shank. I find it very appealing. The only thing that bothers me about it is that you have a nice crisp line that runs the length and then you rounded off the rim. In my opinion, the rounded aesthetic doesn't harmonize well with the crisp edge. I think that if you lean organic as in rounded rims, crisp edges look very out of place and vise versa. You also have a hard transition visually where the shank meets the bowl. I like it but I think a break in the line at the shank end before the stem brings that end of the pipe into balance because it is another hard transition. The example wisemanpipes posted is too smooth and would leave your eye constantly going back to the hard transition at the bowl to shank junction. A hard transition between the shank and the stem will keep your eye moving from the bowl to the bit.

Great point, Wayne. Thank you! What do you think about keeping the rim round, but bringing the hard line over the rim, stopping at the uppermost part of the chamber? Would this work with the proposed stem options?

As I envision what you're describing, it doesn't work for me. I think concave beveling the rim and leaving a crisp outer rim edge would look really sharp though.

Interesting. I like that idea. In that way, the crisp line running the length of the pipe would have two perpendicular crisp lines to terminate at instead of one terminus and one place that it peters out. Great idea, Wayne.

[wdteipen]

I'm having a hard time seeing how a long shanked pipe would look balanced with a long churchwarden stem. In my mind, a long shank should = a shorter (even drastically short) stem.

[LatakiaLover]

I'm having a hard time seeing how a long shanked pipe would look balanced with a long churchwarden stem. In my mind, a long shank should = a shorter (even drastically short) stem.

Because small bowls are a visual expectation of long pipes.

[d.huber]

Whew! This is a tough one...

I automatically thought of a dome saddle, as suggested, but I think a flare could be done as well. The shank is so heavy that it will prove pretty challenging.

Ideas:
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/h ... t_id=77048
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/h ... t_id=69179
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/f ... _id=125444
http://www.smokingpipes.com/pipes/new/f ... _id=113374

Good examples, Jesse! Can you describe why you think each of those options could work to create greater harmony in the piece?

Second, it sounds like people are seeing the shank as being too heavy. Could someone take a stab at explaining why the shank appears too heavy? It's something I'm not seeing.

[Joe Hinkle Pipes]

I was thinking the same thing George. Excuse the crude use of technology fellas.

[wdteipen]

I'm having a hard time seeing how a long shanked pipe would look balanced with a long churchwarden stem. In my mind, a long shank should = a shorter (even drastically short) stem.

Because small bowls are a visual expectation of long pipes.

I agree with that but this bowl isn't that small to me.

[mredmond]

I wrote my post while mredmond was writing his. Interesting that we come up with opposite thoughts here. Of course, I'm right but that's okay. Micah is entitled to be wrong every now and then.

Guy gets on the cover of a magazine and all of a sudden the front of the bowl is the back. : )

I will say that if the shank line extended up into the bowl as Wayne suggested, I might feel differently. I'll also say that a simple dome or flared saddle wouldn't look wrong to me, especially paired with a shank cap.

As far as the weight of the shank is concerned, I assume that was a conscious choice, so my suggestions were with that in mind. Exaggerated proportions can be handled harmoniously, it's just much more difficult to do well.

David, I like this thread. I think we need more of them. I applaud your willingness to offer up your work for more than critique, really, to start a conversation. Technique is easy to critique. Style and design...that gets tricky.

[d.huber]

David, I like this thread. I think we need more of them. I applaud your willingness to offer up your work for more than critique, really, to start a conversation. Technique is easy to critique. Style and design...that gets tricky.

I'm glad you're enjoying it. So am I.

And thanks for your input!

[d.huber]

To further the conversation, I sketched up a churchwarden version and a regular sized version with the first proposed shank to stem transition concept (easier to sketch). No offense Solomon! Just trying to get an accurate concept of proportions.

The warden version:



The regular version:



Of these two sketches, which one is more harmonious and balanced? Why?