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Cooke, James T.: Difference between revisions
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[[File:AMBER BARK Natural Standing Dublin.jpeg|thumb|The Standing Dublin, A Cooke Signature Shape|alt=]] | [[File:AMBER BARK Natural Standing Dublin.jpeg|thumb|The Standing Dublin, A Cooke Signature Shape|alt=]] | ||
Vermont native | Vermont native "J. T." (James Tanner) Cooke, (b. 1949) has variously been called “the Bo Nordh of the blast,” “the supreme master” and “the Tessla of Sandblasting.” <ref>Fred J. Hanna, ''The Perfect Smoke'' , 146; David M., “In A Class All His Own,” ''Tobacco Days,'' August 8, 2011. http://tobaccodays.com/2011/08/j-t-cooke-in-a-class-all-his-own/ accessed 1/4/2021; Chuck Stanion, “J. T. Cooke: The Tesla of Pipe Sandblasting,” https://www.smokingpipes.com/smokingpipesblog/single.cfm/post/jt-cooke-the-tesla-pipe-sandblasting , accessed 1/4/2021. | ||
</ref> In 2022, he was awarded Doctor of Pipes by the Chicago Pipe Collectors Club, the equivalent of the Hollywood Oscar for Lifetime Achievement. <ref>Chuck Stanion, “Doctors and Masters of Pipes: A Timeline,” https://www.smokingpipes.com/smokingpipesblog/single.cfm/post/doctors-and-masters-pipes-timeline?utm_source=Smokingpipes.com&utm_campaign=18848e7cd7-Sun_Jun_12_2022_DailyReader&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0e8b6a473f-18848e7cd7-209228005 , accessed June 12, 2022.</ref> He has made two pipes of the year for ''Pipes & Tobaccos'' magazine, one in 1999 (in a run of 250) and a second (in a run of 50) in 2008. In 2005, he made an edition of 25 straight dublins for the NASPC club pipe. <ref>http://www.naspc.org/Pipe%20of%20the%20Year.htm, accessed 6/10/22.</ref> His pipes are renowned for offering a tactile and visual experience unlike any others in the world and his work is in such high and continuous demand that commissioned pipes have sometimes taken three to four years, resulting in a robust estate market where his pipes often sell for more than newly commissioned ones. | </ref> In 2022, he was awarded Doctor of Pipes by the Chicago Pipe Collectors Club, the equivalent of the Hollywood Oscar for Lifetime Achievement. <ref>Chuck Stanion, “Doctors and Masters of Pipes: A Timeline,” https://www.smokingpipes.com/smokingpipesblog/single.cfm/post/doctors-and-masters-pipes-timeline?utm_source=Smokingpipes.com&utm_campaign=18848e7cd7-Sun_Jun_12_2022_DailyReader&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_0e8b6a473f-18848e7cd7-209228005 , accessed June 12, 2022.</ref> He has made two pipes of the year for ''Pipes & Tobaccos'' magazine, one in 1999 (in a run of 250) and a second (in a run of 50) in 2008. In 2005, he made an edition of 25 straight dublins for the NASPC club pipe. <ref>http://www.naspc.org/Pipe%20of%20the%20Year.htm, accessed 6/10/22.</ref> His pipes are renowned for offering a tactile and visual experience unlike any others in the world and his work is in such high and continuous demand that commissioned pipes have sometimes taken three to four years, resulting in a robust estate market where his pipes often sell for more than newly commissioned ones. | ||
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'''OKFA'''—“Old Knarly Friend Algeria" –briar from Algeria (no longer used)</blockquote> | '''OKFA'''—“Old Knarly Friend Algeria" –briar from Algeria (no longer used)</blockquote> | ||
There have only been two shank stamps indicating the authenticity of a Cooke pipe: | There have only been two shank stamps indicating the authenticity of a Cooke pipe: | ||
'''J. T. Cooke'''—on pipes after 1996. | '''J.T. & D. Cooke'''—on pipes made before 1996; “D” refers to ex-wife Deb who teamed with Cooke as sander when they were making pipes for other American labels. <ref>“In A Class All His Own.”</ref> | ||
[[File:C004 Nomenclature JT&D 2008 stamp.jpg|left|thumb|Cooke's nomenclature shank stamp and the year stamp placement]] | |||
'''J. T. Cooke'''—on pipes after 1996. [[File:C004 Nomenclature JT&D 2008 stamp.jpg|left|thumb|Cooke's nomenclature shank stamp and the year stamp placement]] | |||
Cooke has disavowed the authenticity of pipes with the '''LPI''' shank stamp (for Levin Pipes International) as contract work, well-made but not ''genuine'' Cooke pipes. <ref>“Tesla.”</ref> | Cooke has disavowed the authenticity of pipes with the '''LPI''' shank stamp (for Levin Pipes International) as contract work, well-made but not ''genuine'' Cooke pipes. <ref>“Tesla.”</ref> | ||
In addition, Cooke's pipes have always used the Chinese Yin and Yang for stem identification, appropriate since it symbolizes how opposites may actually be interconnected | In addition, Cooke's pipes have always used the Chinese Yin and Yang for stem identification, appropriate since it symbolizes how opposites may actually be interconnected and interdependent: a non-dualistic understanding in which thesis and antithesis are transcended. | ||
=== Early Period === | === Early Period === | ||
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=== Blasting === | === Blasting === | ||
[[File:C18 stummel and rodP&T2008 08.jpg|thumb|Hand-poured acrylic rod and stummel for a | [[File:C18 stummel and rodP&T2008 08.jpg|thumb|Hand-poured acrylic rod and stummel for a bent billiard 65|alt=]] | ||
Cooke writes, “Five stage blasting began around 1999. It’s never a hard and fast rule; it all depends on what the briar needs.” <ref>Email from J. T. Cooke to Mark Irwin, January 3, 2022.</ref> In “Down this Blasted Path,” the short essay Cooke provides on his website, he details the stages: | Cooke writes, “Five stage blasting began around 1999. It’s never a hard and fast rule; it all depends on what the briar needs.” <ref>Email from J. T. Cooke to Mark Irwin, January 3, 2022.</ref> In “Down this Blasted Path,” the short essay Cooke provides on his website, he details the stages: | ||
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Cooke has made his own hand-poured acrylic stem rod almost from the beginning of his work as a pipe maker. He works primarily with three colors: reproduction amber (his earliest), amber bark and black. He also, however, frequently uses ruby (a deep purple swirl) as well as creates custom color combinations. | Cooke has made his own hand-poured acrylic stem rod almost from the beginning of his work as a pipe maker. He works primarily with three colors: reproduction amber (his earliest), amber bark and black. He also, however, frequently uses ruby (a deep purple swirl) as well as creates custom color combinations. | ||
[[File:C16 P&T2008 stem rod.jpg|thumb|Cooke's hand-poured acrylic stem rod (courtesy ''Pipes & Tobaccos'' magazine)]] | [[File:C16 P&T2008 stem rod.jpg|thumb|Cooke's hand-poured acrylic stem rod (courtesy ''Pipes & Tobaccos'' magazine)]] | ||
Even with J. T.’s standard colors, however, no two mixed-color stems will ever be alike, as the poured “colors can end up in all different locations and patterns on the stem.” <ref>Email from J. T. Cooke to Mark Irwin, June 11, 2022.</ref> The uniqueness of such pipes is thus further enhanced, often strikingly so. Because these are hand-poured acrylics, they | Even with J. T.’s standard colors, however, no two mixed-color stems will ever be alike, as the poured “colors can end up in all different locations and patterns on the stem.” <ref>Email from J. T. Cooke to Mark Irwin, June 11, 2022.</ref> The uniqueness of such pipes is thus further enhanced, often strikingly so. Because these are hand-poured acrylics, they are more flexible than factory acrylic and one of the only instances in the artisan world of a pipe maker creating as well as turning stems for his own pipes. | ||
== Biography == | == Biography == | ||
Cooke was born in | Cooke was born in Connecticut in 1949 and has one sister (a retired university professor) and two grown children. <ref>In A Class All His Own.”</ref> His father was a biology teacher with exceptional DIY skills which the his son would inherit, later building his own house from scratch. <ref>“Tesla” and “In A Class All His Own.”</ref> As a child, J. T. experienced recurring high fevers from severe bouts of strep throat. In the interview with David M., he attributes his sickliness not only with developing his imagination but with giving him a certain existential outlook on life: “I had a certain appreciation for trying to enjoy every day because I never knew if it was going to be my last [which] gave me a certain amount of license to experiment and live life and pursue what I wanted to pursue, because nobody is guaranteed tomorrow.” <ref>“In A Class All His Own.”</ref> | ||
In 1972, Cooke graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration. <ref>Email to Mark Irwin, January 3, 2022.</ref> It is worth mentioning that this prestigious school, which has a steep 27% acceptance rate, includes alumni like David Burne of the Talking Heads, actor James Franco, authors Chris Van Allsburg and Brian Selznick (both Caldecott Medalists), and film maker Gus Van Sant among others. <ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Island_School_of_Design</ref> Cooke is undoubtedly RISD’s only artisan pipe-maker. | In 1972, Cooke graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration. <ref>Email to Mark Irwin, January 3, 2022.</ref> It is worth mentioning that this prestigious school, which has a steep 27% acceptance rate, includes alumni like David Burne of the Talking Heads, actor James Franco, authors Chris Van Allsburg and Brian Selznick (both Caldecott Medalists), and film maker Gus Van Sant among others. <ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhode_Island_School_of_Design</ref> Cooke is undoubtedly RISD’s only artisan pipe-maker. | ||
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www.cookepipes.com | www.cookepipes.com | ||
514 Apple Tree Point Rd | |||
Burlington, VT 05401 | Burlington, VT 05401 | ||