Burak: Difference between revisions
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In 1966, needing to have a Meerschaum pipe repaired, he met and subsequently began working with Meerschaum master Paul Fisher, with whom he stayed with for 5 years. During that time he produced a small number of Meerschaum pipes, a few of which are still extant in collections. He also worked for Wally Frank as a pipe designer. In 1968 he bought the Connoisseur Pipe Shop, where he was able to concentrate on his own designs. Burak's pipes have been carved by a number of well-regarded pipe makers, among them Joe Corteggione and Tony Passante. Several of his freehands are in the Museum of Modern Art in New York and have been part of a traveling exhibit of the American Craft Museum. | In 1966, needing to have a Meerschaum pipe repaired, he met and subsequently began working with Meerschaum master Paul Fisher, with whom he stayed with for 5 years. During that time he produced a small number of Meerschaum pipes, a few of which are still extant in collections. He also worked for Wally Frank as a pipe designer. In 1968 he bought the Connoisseur Pipe Shop, where he was able to concentrate on his own designs. Burak's pipes have been carved by a number of well-regarded pipe makers, among them Joe Corteggione and Tony Passante. Several of his freehands are in the Museum of Modern Art in New York and have been part of a traveling exhibit of the American Craft Museum. | ||
Burak's work is best known as pipe design as fine art. He admires pays tribute to the classic English designs of the old Barlings and Comoy's and offers a line of "Classics" which begin with these traditional values yet reflect his own interpretations. He is best know for his freehands, with some higher end "Art Pieces" selling for thousands of dollars. | Burak's work is best known as pipe design as fine art. He admires pays tribute to the classic English designs of the old Barlings and Comoy's and offers a line of "Classics" which begin with these traditional values yet reflect his own interpretations. He is best know for his freehands, with some higher end "Art Pieces", as well as One-of-a-kinds, selling for thousands of dollars. | ||
Burak's gallery is the Connoisseur Pipe Shop, Ltd., USB Building, 1285 Avenue of the Americas (corner 51st St.), New York, NY 10019, 212-247-6054. | Burak's gallery is the Connoisseur Pipe Shop, Ltd., USB Building, 1285 Avenue of the Americas (corner 51st St.), New York, NY 10019, 212-247-6054. | ||
Recently, prominent figures in the pipe collecting community have applauded Burak's work: | Recently, prominent figures in the pipe collecting community have applauded Burak's work: | ||
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"Ed Burak is primarily a designer, although he can make pipes. His executed designs achieve a number of goals, and I'll try to remember and relate what some of those goals are. One element for Ed is his profound respect for the worth of the classic shapes of the early English and French tradition. He insists that these designs became classics for good reasons and deserve that homage be paid to them. If you look at Ed's designs, you can see how he realizes his inspiration from the classic shapes and takes off them them. Fine jazz music comes to mind, like Art Tatum on the piano, or Stephane Grappelli on the violin. They don't just make noise to titillate themselves. They take classics and constantly depart and return to them, always respecting and reminding you of their original and intrinsic worth. That's what Ed's pipes remind me of ... he wants to find out through exploration - controlled, planned exploration - what a pipe can be. | "Ed Burak is primarily a designer, although he can make pipes. His executed designs achieve a number of goals, and I'll try to remember and relate what some of those goals are. One element for Ed is his profound respect for the worth of the classic shapes of the early English and French tradition. He insists that these designs became classics for good reasons and deserve that homage be paid to them. If you look at Ed's designs, you can see how he realizes his inspiration from the classic shapes and takes off them them. Fine jazz music comes to mind, like Art Tatum on the piano, or Stephane Grappelli on the violin. They don't just make noise to titillate themselves. They take classics and constantly depart and return to them, always respecting and reminding you of their original and intrinsic worth. That's what Ed's pipes remind me of ... he wants to find out through exploration - controlled, planned exploration - what a pipe can be. | ||
"What he may not tell you, though, is that his pipes, combined, represent a body of work, as should any true artist's compiled works. He doesn't like to talk about his works because he thinks that the pipes speak for themselves and that each true collector of his pipes will come to that realization on their own. I think Ed lives by a philosophy of honesty. And I believe his pipes are developed in the same way. I'm pretty sure it's a reflection of his honesty that his pipes come completely naked. They are just what they are. They're not stained to cover flaws or highlight grain. They are | "What he may not tell you, though, is that his pipes, combined, represent a body of work, as should any true artist's compiled works. He doesn't like to talk about his works because he thinks that the pipes speak for themselves and that each true collector of his pipes will come to that realization on their own. I think Ed lives by a philosophy of honesty. And I believe his pipes are developed in the same way. I'm pretty sure it's a reflection of his honesty that his pipes come completely naked. They are just what they are. They're not stained to cover flaws or highlight grain. They are never adorned with silver or plastic. I find it entirely possibly that, when future generations look at briar pipes from this era worth saving, worth displaying, worth reflecting upon, the pipes they most value, by a long shot, will be Ed Burak's. I could see shucking all of these pedestrian looking pipes and devoting myself to Connoisseur pipes." '''''Marty Pulvers, "Marty Returns to New York and Meets Ed Burak," The Pipe Collector, Vol.9, No.5, Oct. 2001''''' | ||
In an article, called [[Go West]], which originally appeared in the French Pipe Mag, Erwin Van Hove has this to say about the dramatic influence Ed Burak has had on the American Pipe making scene: | In an article, called [[Go West]], which originally appeared in the French Pipe Mag, Erwin Van Hove has this to say about the dramatic influence Ed Burak has had on the American Pipe making scene: | ||
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As a significant footnote, the reader should note that Ed Burak's pipes are NOT made by Paul Perri, nor Weber, nor Jobey, as erroneously stated in Lopes's book "Pipes: Artisans and Trademarks." Burak prefers not to disclose the name of his current pipe carver. | As a significant footnote, the reader should note that Ed Burak's pipes are NOT made by Paul Perri, nor Weber, nor Jobey, as erroneously stated in Lopes's book "Pipes: Artisans and Trademarks." Burak prefers not to disclose the name of his current pipe carver. | ||
After the Connoisseur Pipe Shop was closed in early 2009, the remaining inventory of Ed Burak Pipes have become available through Ebay Auctions in limited quantities. The auctions are arranged by Hank Saatchi, a member of the NYC Pipe Club, under Ebay User ID Ebuyer1932.=== http://www.newyorkpipeclub.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=415823&module_id=77397 ====Auctions usually start on Thursdays for a 10 day cycle, or on Sundays for a 7 day cycle. Paragraph added by Hank Saatchi on August 19, 2010 and edited on October 3, 2010 | |||
After the Connoisseur Pipe Shop was closed in early 2009, the remaining inventory of Ed Burak Pipes have become available through Ebay Auctions in limited quantities. The auctions are arranged by Hank Saatchi, a member of the NYC Pipe Club, under Ebay User ID Ebuyer1932.=== http://www.newyorkpipeclub.org/content.aspx?page_id=22&club_id=415823&module_id=77397 ====Auctions usually start on Thursdays for a 10 day cycle, or on Sundays for a 7 day cycle. Paragraph added by | |||
Additions submitted by Rob Denholtz | Additions submitted by Rob Denholtz | ||