Description
Todd Brugman Bullhorn With Limited Edition Vulcanite Stem
This is a one-of-a-kind pipe by our in-house pipe maker, Todd Brugman. It is made 100% from the raw materials, by hand, in the LJ Peretti workshop, here in Boston. He only ever uses the highest of quality for materials, including the vulcanite.
His work all comes together creating unique and cohesive pipe designs. This is just one of Brugman’s many unique interpretations of English shape chart pipes incorporating English, Danish and Italian shaping cues in Brugman’s unique “Americana” style; there is clearly a strong yet very unique influence of neo-classical Italian shaping via English shape chart styles with his Danish influences being on the use of & understanding of grain rather than style and/or engineering. His approach, especially with a strong English influence, and many more of Brugman’s unique qualities such as the lack of rustication and more, is something not seen in his contemporaries. He can blend the distinctive and idiosyncratic, grounding the most unique pipes in the familiar. Though contemporary, by definition, he is often described as “contemporary with a timeless aesthetic,” truly anachronistic work.
Brugman states that famous art deco graphic and Industrial designer Raymond Loewy is a big influence on all his pipe design, and that can clearly been seen in this pipes shaping, especially in his recent work over the past year or so. Other big influences that can be seen in his work, as he will often state the early 20th century’s short lived Italian art movement Futurism “especially the work of Umberto Busoni…” Brugman has stated.
Every shaping and compositional decisions by Brugman is deliberate. “It is all by design…from the exact angle of the cant, the thickness and shape transition of the shank, to whether or not the shank has flat or rounded sides, the subtleties of the stain, roundness of any part of the work, the the most minuet subtlety is in the proportions…. “ and so much more.
This pipe, a “bull-horn”, is (somewhat of) a combination of a “horn” shape and a pipe from the bulldog family (a “bull-cap” or “Rhodesian”), yet it does stand on its own, as its own shape, carrying its own unique character. This pipe is quite robust and muscular by design, as well as very having a very fluid composition. The fluid nature of this pipes harkens more of a Danish feel than is generally seen in Brugman’s work, yet conversely, for anyone familiar with his work, it is clear that it stands on its own as a “Brugman Pipe.”
The shank has a strong delineation from the bowl, as is a common theme and shaping cue in Brugman’s work, something not seen in horn style pipes, yet that delineation is only at the top of the pipe, allowing the shank to flow from the bowl as one fluid plastic mass.
This pipe has text book straight grain that encompassed the entire bowl and shank, complimented by dynamic birds-eye end-grain prominently displayed on the large flared rim. The pipe is cohesive in design and engineering, as one would expect no less from Brugman, and it all comes together making a pipe that is composed elegantly and has a classic “Americana” silhouette while it clearly being a pipe with strong muscular lines.
This pipe of Brugman’s clearly carries an otherwise ineffable contemporary qualities that are have an equally timeless look, making it anachronistic; and this, along with dynamic grain patterns and perfect engineering, is one of many things that people come to expect from a pipe made by Brugman.,
At under 5″ and 42 grams, this pipe clenches easily and comfortably; it is surprising light for its robust design. It is a stunning pipe with strong lines, and a sturdy construction.
This pipe is all around engineered perfectly from the way the draft hole is drilled and aligned to the funneled stem, and so much more. The chamber size is about that of a Dunhill group 5, as it has a fairly large chamber.
Brugman guarantees all of his work against defects for life.
Length: 4 1/2″ (From the heel transition, or 5″ for the total length)
Bowl Height: 1 3/4″
Chamber Diameter: 7/8″
Weight: 42 Grams
Materials: Briar & Vulcanite
Grade: dd
100% made in Boston, USA
Todd Brugman Grading System from Lowest to Highest/Best: T, O, d, dd
Grading is 90% based on the grain, and 10% based on the shaping in regards to difficulty and execution. Also, if there are inclusions in the briar (if there are, they aren’t flaws, just “inclusions” in Brugman’s words, otherwise he wouldn’t sell the pipe. Small black dot that may or may not recess ever so slightly into the pipe. Nothing is hidden, if they exist, one would see them, Brugman doesn’t hide them via fills or photography, he makes sure all angles of the pipe can been seen, he considers them part of the grain, natural) Those can effect the price and the grading. Grading is 100% Brugman’s opinion, as every pipe maker and brand grades differently based on what they view as “perfection.”
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Pipes are stamped “T Brugman” followed by the grade, on the left side of the shank. With “LJ Peretti Co” stamped on the right side of the shank. Sometimes all stamps can be on the same side or a different location if the pipe shape doesn’t allow the for
