Freehand

Freehand is an approach to shaping a pipe not according to a predetermined mold, but according to the grain structure of the briar block and the maker's design in the moment. It names a design philosophy more than a single shape with fixed dimensions: two freehands from the same workshop are never twins.

The approach was born in Denmark in the mid-20th century and turned into a full-blown fashion wave in the United States market in the 1960s and 1970s. Today it's considered one of the founding traditions of handmade pipe making.

Distinguishing Features

The main elements that set the freehand approach apart from the classic pipe shapes in a catalog are:

• Plateau edge: The "plateau" — briar's naturally barked outer surface — is left as is, whether at the rim of the bowl or the end of the shank.
• Following the grain: The body follows the wood's grain direction; symmetry isn't sought, and the shape is built around what the block gives.
• One-piece shank: Long shanks are most often carved from the same block as the body.
• Mixed surfaces: Smooth and blasted or rusticated surfaces can be combined on the same pipe.