Edwin Pipes

Kris Edwin Barber.

Edwin Pipes stamp / nomenclature.

Edwin Pipes are made by Kris Edwin Barber, an artisan pipe-maker based n Northern Minnesota in the United States.

An Edwin Pipes freehand churchwarden with stand, made in 2023. Image courtesy Kris Edwin Barber.

A 'vine'-themed freehand churchwarden with stand, made in 2023. Composite created from images courtesy Kris Edwin Barber.

From the Edwin Pipes Website Twenty years ago I was living in the Bavarian Alps where pipe smoking is much more popular than here in the U.S. I remember hiking through the mountains one day when a man smoking a pipe walked past me. The aroma was wonderful; kind of a woody campfire note mixed with a subtle cherry flavor. I remember thinking how pleasant it would be to have that fragrance surrounding me all the time so the very next day I borrowed a pipe from a friend, poured a generous amount of his dry tobacco into the bowl, struck a match, and…I hated it. Yes, it seemed it was much more pleasant to have someone else do the smoking for you while you just sit there and enjoy that delicious roomnote. What I didn’t know is how important a good pipe is to the smoking ritual. Since then I’ve learned how the mechanics of a pipe affect the smoke and thus, the entire smoking experience. If I only had access to a good pipe that day I would not have wasted so much time in appreciating the wonderful qualities of a good pipe smoke. I make my pipes with these mechanics in mind, considering everything from the draw and how the smoke travels through the pipe to the materials I use.
In addition, I try to create pipes that are aesthetically pleasing. By manipulating the pipe’s angles I search for the shapes that best show the wood’s grain whether it’s a stunning display of straight grain running up the bowl and shank, or a brilliant show of birdseye adorning the rim. The end product is an Edwin pipe; a pipe that smokes well and is beautiful to the eye.

'Short Dragon' by Edwin Pipes, made in 2023. Image courtesy Kris Edwin Barber.

As I continue to create new shapes and carve pipes distinctive to the Edwin name, I keep one eye fixed on artisans who have inspired my craft. As colleagues, customers, and collectors I also consider you as part of the story to help encourage and influence my work.

Kris Edwin Barber

You might also like to listen to Brian Levine's interview with Kris on the Pipes Magazine Radio Show.

Contact Information:

Kris Edwin Barber
Website: http://edwinpipes.com/
E-mail: edwinpipes@yahoo.com       
Phone: 952-356-9299.