Friedman (Richard Friedman)

Friedman is the name given to the limited workshop output that American pipe maker Richard Friedman stamped with his own name. Known for freehand interpretations following the Danish line and for sculptural pieces depicting sea creatures, Friedman never turned the craft into a full-time profession, confining his output to certain months of the year.

Bench and Working Rhythm

According to records, the workshop was set up in Bellingham, in northern Washington State, at the harbor where Friedman's boat wintered. His main occupation was seafaring: together with his wife Nancy, he ran a charter boat offering weekly cruises for small groups in Alaskan waters. When the cruising season closed, roughly half the year was left for the bench, and this seasonal rhythm shaped both the volume and the character of his output.

Not needing to make a living from pipemaking removed the pressure of an order calendar. Friedman is known to have tried his hand at classic shapes as well, but the bulk of his work leaned toward freehand carving — that is, toward Danish-style forms developing according to the grain in the block rather than to measure and symmetry.