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Kharitonov: Difference between revisions
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(Started Andrey Kharitonov page with writeup and pictures.) |
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These constraints on Kharitonov’s pipe making yielded surprising results. His earliest pipes show an experimentalist approach to form, coupled with a clear talent for bringing out the best of what a block of briar has to offer. But when Kharitonov shared his pipes on a Russian pipe smokers’ forum, his audience was, according to Kharitonov, not impressed. He encountered another problem concerning his pipe making, expressed in the form of a question from another user: | These constraints on Kharitonov’s pipe making yielded surprising results. His earliest pipes show an experimentalist approach to form, coupled with a clear talent for bringing out the best of what a block of briar has to offer. But when Kharitonov shared his pipes on a Russian pipe smokers’ forum, his audience was, according to Kharitonov, not impressed. He encountered another problem concerning his pipe making, expressed in the form of a question from another user: | ||
“Who do you make your pipes for? For pipe smokers or pipe collectors? | <small>“Who do you make your pipes for? For pipe smokers or pipe collectors?</small> | ||
If for smokers, then almost all of your smoking pipes are not suitable, for one simple reason. They are uncomfortable and impossible to hold in your hand. Look at your ‘Mermaid,’ ‘Goby,’ ‘Orange,’ and so on – these pipes do not have a comfortable position in the hand and therefore the average smoker is unlikely to ever buy them. If you make pipes for collectors, then there are no miracles in the world. First you must earn a name for yourself and become a famous master. Only then can you possibly get to selling pipes to collectors. You must decide for yourself what audience you will work for.” | <small>If for smokers, then almost all of your smoking pipes are not suitable, for one simple reason. They are uncomfortable and impossible to hold in your hand. Look at your ‘Mermaid,’ ‘Goby,’ ‘Orange,’ and so on – these pipes do not have a comfortable position in the hand and therefore the average smoker is unlikely to ever buy them. If you make pipes for collectors, then there are no miracles in the world. First you must earn a name for yourself and become a famous master. Only then can you possibly get to selling pipes to collectors. You must decide for yourself what audience you will work for.”</small> | ||
This feedback | This feedback made Kharitonov to rethink his approach to pipe design, but it did not discourage him from continuing to explore unique and elaborate forms. He was strongly inspired by the work of other Russian pipe makers, such as Victor Yashtylov, Michail Revyagin, and Alexey Kharmalov – pipe makers who Kharitonov feels an affinity with because they all “think in the same language.” | ||
[[File:Kharitonov current 2.jpg|thumb|A recent Kharitonov. Image courtesy Andrey Kharitonov.]] | |||
[[File:IMG 2836.jpg|thumb|A recent Kharitonov. Image courtesy Andrey Kharitonov.]] | |||
[[File:IMG 2686.jpg|thumb|A recent Kharitonov. Image courtesy Andrey Kharitonov.]] | |||
[[File:IMG 2540.jpg|thumb|A recent Kharitonov. Image courtesy Andrey Kharitonov.]] | |||
[[File:IMG 2269.jpg|thumb|A recent Kharitonov. Image courtesy Andrey Kharitonov.]] | |||
[[File:Kharitonov current 1.jpg|thumb|A recent Kharitonov. Image courtesy Andrey Kharitonov.]] | |||
[[File:IMG 1881.jpg|thumb|A recent Kharitonov. Image courtesy Andrey Kharitonov.]] | |||
[[File:IMG 1558.jpg|thumb|A recent Kharitonov. Image courtesy Andrey Kharitonov.]] | |||
Soon Kharitonov’s pipes began to find a market. By the end of 2020, he had made 50 pipes, using the proceeds from their sales to purchase dedicated pipe making equipment. During 2021, he made 110 pipes, and had started receiving enough commission requests to quit his job and become a full-time pipe maker. He has continued to make pipes as a full-time job ever since. Despite his successes, Kharitonov says that he his style in search of his own style. “My only regret is that I didn't start making pipes 15-20 years earlier”, he says. | Soon Kharitonov’s pipes began to find a market. By the end of 2020, he had made 50 pipes, using the proceeds from their sales to purchase dedicated pipe making equipment. During 2021, he made 110 pipes, and had started receiving enough commission requests to quit his job and become a full-time pipe maker. He has continued to make pipes as a full-time job ever since. Despite his successes, Kharitonov says that he his style in search of his own style. “My only regret is that I didn't start making pipes 15-20 years earlier”, he says. | ||