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Cooke, James T.: Difference between revisions
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=== Stamps and Nomenclature === | === Stamps and Nomenclature === | ||
[[File:C0003 OKF shank stamp.jpg|left|thumb|Cooke's OKF Shank Stamp]] | |||
J. T. has used three stamps in small capital letters at the mortise shank face to indicate the origin of his briar:<blockquote>OKF— “Old Knarly Friend”—briar from Morocco | J. T. has used three stamps in small capital letters at the mortise shank face to indicate the origin of his briar:<blockquote>OKF— “Old Knarly Friend”—briar from Morocco | ||
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There have only been two shank stamps indicating the authenticity of a Cooke pipe: <blockquote>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> | There have only been two shank stamps indicating the authenticity of a Cooke pipe: <blockquote>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> | ||
J. T. Cooke—on pipes after 1996. </blockquote>Cooke has disavowed the authenticity of pipes with the LPI shank stamp as contract work, not genuine Cooke pipes. <ref>“Tesla.”</ref> | J. T. Cooke—on pipes after 1996. </blockquote> | ||
[[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 as contract work, not genuine Cooke pipes. <ref>“Tesla.”</ref> | |||
In addition, Cooke pipes have always used the Chinese Yin and Yang symbol for stem identification. | In addition, Cooke pipes have always used the Chinese Yin and Yang symbol for stem identification. | ||
=== Early Period === | === Early Period === | ||
By choice and good fortune, Cooke has followed the classic trajectory of continuous study and a long apprenticeship as journeyman before setting up shop under his own name. He made his first pipe in 1972 from a pre-carved block of briar, which he smoked while quitting cigarettes. He later carved it into a turbaned, bearded figural. <ref>Chuck Stanion, “The Road Less Traveled,” ''Pipes & Tobaccos,'' Summer 1997.</ref> | By choice and good fortune, Cooke has followed the classic trajectory of continuous study and a long apprenticeship as journeyman before setting up shop under his own name. He made his first pipe in 1972 from a pre-carved block of briar, which he smoked while quitting cigarettes. He later carved it into a turbaned, bearded figural. <ref>Chuck Stanion, “The Road Less Traveled,” ''Pipes & Tobaccos,'' Summer 1997.</ref> | ||
[[File:C005 First pipe 1972.jpg|thumb|Cooke's first pipe, a turbaned figural from 1972 (courtesy ''Pipes & Tobaccos'' magazine).]] | |||
In partnership with his ex-wife Deb, Cooke worked making pipes for The Briar Workshop and the Wilke pipe shop. They also did rough shaping for Mike Butera’s pipes as well making thousands of pipes under the LPI Levin Pipes International stamp. <ref>Email from Cooke to Mark Irwin, June 3, 2022.</ref> | In partnership with his ex-wife Deb, Cooke worked making pipes for The Briar Workshop and the Wilke pipe shop. They also did rough shaping for Mike Butera’s pipes as well making thousands of pipes under the LPI Levin Pipes International stamp. <ref>Email from Cooke to Mark Irwin, June 3, 2022.</ref> | ||
Barry Levin of Levin Pipes International (LPI) was a close friend of Cooke’s until his death and was instrumental in Cooke’s growth as a pipe maker, providing J.T. with the opportunity to study thousands of pipes as he restored them. An important outgrowth of his partnership with Levin was Cooke’s interest in creating reproduction stems, which would lead to creating his own hand-poured acrylic stems. <ref>"Road Less Traveled.”</ref> | Barry Levin of Levin Pipes International (LPI) was a close friend of Cooke’s until his death and was instrumental in Cooke’s growth as a pipe maker, providing J.T. with the opportunity to study thousands of pipes as he restored them. An important outgrowth of his partnership with Levin was Cooke’s interest in creating reproduction stems, which would lead to creating his own hand-poured acrylic stems. <ref>"Road Less Traveled.”</ref> | ||
[[File:1990 January complete.jpg|left|thumb|Photos from the J.T.&D. Cooke mail out, January 1990]] | |||
After Levin's passing, in 1990 the Cookes began marketing their own pipes. J.T.’s facility and artistry are on display in two sets of photographs sent to prospective pipe shops at this time, showing a striking cavalier figural of Abraham Lincoln, smooth and sandblast free hands, classic shapes and “Icicle” rustic and smooth combinations resembling Castello and Radice’s melted wax-style pipes. These photos show the range and sophistication of his work at this time, including the growth of his distinctive signature style based on his deep appreciation of classic English shapes . The bell calabash, horn, standing poker and bulldog are all shapes to which he will frequently return in his later work. | [[File:C007 1990 complete.jpg|thumb|A second set of J.T.&D. Cooke pipes from their 1990 mail outs]] | ||
After Levin's passing, in 1990 the Cookes began marketing their own pipes. J.T.’s facility and artistry are on display in two sets of photographs sent to prospective pipe shops at this time, showing a striking cavalier figural of Abraham Lincoln, smooth and sandblast free hands, classic shapes and “Icicle” rustic and smooth combinations resembling Castello and Radice’s melted wax-style pipes. These photos show the range and sophistication of his work at this time, including the growth of his distinctive signature style based on his deep appreciation of classic English shapes . The bell calabash, horn, standing poker and bulldog are all shapes to which he will frequently return in his later work. | |||
=== Middle Period === | === Middle Period === | ||