Welcome to my homepage.
My name is Abi Natur, I carve smoking pipes inspired by a passion for precise woodcraft .
I vividly remember the first time as a boy, when I observed the lit tobacco in my fathers pipe. The smoke was dense and sweet smelling, in time I was drawn to it, while observing each pipe ritual with particular fascination.
Some general information :
Prior to opening my workshop i lived and traveled throughout Europa and the Mediterranean area. The different cultures, languages and sights encountered, found also a way of expression throughout the pipes from my my workshop.
I carve freehand pipes from the highest quality materials, best available Plateau-Bruyère and Olive wood. The stem is hand cut by using finest German ebonite, cumberland or lucite rods stock. Most of my briar is ordered in bulk, while some is hand picked by myself and wherever the origin, all of my briar undergoes a thorough control.
I tend to work one pipe at a time, so that each pipe receives my utmost attention. Even the few standard shapes that I make are unique, I do not use templates in the creation of a pipe .
My tobacco chambers are tapered toward the bottom and hand sanded .Each draught hole is freehand drilled and must enter the tobacco chamber at the bottom center,or else can not leave the workshop.The pipe cleaner must be able to pass the pipe from the button of the stem to the bottom of the tobacco chamber without any disassembly.
Pipe carving is a subtle yet precise art that fully reflects the pipemakers personality in his work. Every single pipe out of my Workshop is as a smoking instrument for the discerning pipe smoker!
The Olive tree that stands as a symbol for peace finds its place naturally in the Pipe. The curing of the wood by the hand of the pipemaker is a rewarding and traditional experience that reflects fully in the pipe that is made.
My Workshop is placed in the Mediterranean city of Bar – Montenegro at the Adriatic seacoast where also the rare olive tree species “Barska Zutica – Olea Europea” is found.
A sturdy tree that grows very slowly in an intense sea-mountain climate, carefully handpicked for each smoking pipe also adds a subtle sweet taste to the tobacco.
One of the oldest olive trees in the world grows in Bar and is on behalf of carbon-dating 2240 years the “Stara Maslina” which means “The Old Olive”.
I personally harvest my olive wood from trees older than 500 and up to 800 years , drying the wood-blocks in an old fashioned way for 5 -10 more years.
The best and rarest olive-wood is from the trees growing on almost bare stone, since the natural fight for survival over hundreds of years is perfectly reflected through the marble like grain and density of the wood.
Abi Natur