Joura Pipe Brandy 9

JOURA
Brandy 9

About the maker:
Karl-Heinz Joura was born in what was then part of Eastern Germany, and while a young man developed into a world class diver. Such was his prowess that he competed in many world competitions, including the German Championship Games in 1961.  Finding that his future in the Eastern bloc looked rather bleak Joura defected to the West, hiding in the cargo hold of a freighter bound for Bremen, where he now resides.  Being a great athlete Karlo taught physical education at schools in West Germany. Noting that many of his fellow teachers were pipe smokers Karlo, who liked working with his hands, began to craft pipes. These first pipes were so successful that he decided to devote his life to pipe making.   Joura possesses both imagination of design and the precise execution to carry his designs through to their fullest potential. Karlo's devotion to getting the best out of each block of briar and rod of vulcanite is such that he crafts only 200 pipes each year- miniscule in terms of quantity. So, how does a man who makes so few pipes in a year carve out the huge reputation that Joura has earned? One has only to look, feel, and smoke one of Joura's pipes to understand.
     A fascinating point: Joura is the only pipe maker to stamp on each pipe a symbol representing the type of briar used. Karlo uses briar from three distinct regions- Corsica (represented by a star), Sardinia (symbolized by a tobacco plant), and Southern France (a leaf). 
     The flowing designs of Karlo's shapes, and the soft and natural beauty of his stains reflect the closeness he feels to the natural beauty which surrounds him. Karlo much prefers to spend his time in crafting pipes rather than talking about them. He is truly at home in his workshop, trees rustling softly outside the window, creating a new pipe or working for ever softer shades of color. Unlike some (perhaps most) he does not go to shows or shops to sell his wares; his clients, instead, come to him. And over coffee, and a pipe or two of tobacco, the client will choose pipes for his shop. In boring both the tobacco chamber and the smoke chamber Karlo uses the freehand method, depending only on eyesight and steadiness of hand rather than mechanized procedures. The hand-cut vulcanite mouthpiece is perfection itself, with a dazzling sheen and unmatched comfort level in the mouth. Karlo Joura?s pipes are beautiful, to be sure. But there is something more, and this goes far beyond beauty. There is an unmatched smoking quality in the pipes he crafts. Why this is one can not say, but one can truly shout that it is so. Many have tried to discover this secret, but have been unsuccessful. In the end one can only be thankful that such pipes exist.

Origin:
Made in Germany from Sardinian Briar

Description:
This magnificent piece shows a straight grain all around the bowl and on the sides of the shank.  The bottom of the pipe has a stunning Birdseye grain that flows through the long shank.  A soft leather sleeve is included with the pipe.

Condition:
100/100  This pipe is in Mint Condition and has not been smoked.

Markings:
JOURA 
(tobacco plant)
6

Approximate Measurements:
Length of Pipe:  5  1/2  inches
Height of Bowl:  1  3/4  inches
Width of Bowl:  1  3/4  inches    
Tobacco Chamber Diameter:  3/4  inches
Tobacco Chamber Depth:  1  1/2  inches