Although it's not Christmas yet, I have to sleep only 132 nights, it seems to be a usance between pipecarvers, -artistst to give each other presents.
They could be just human beings. In this little Christmasstory Roger Wallenstein made a pipe for Ralf E. Wunderlich. (For those who aren't familiar with Ralf, I invite you to take a look at his creations : http://www.atelier-rew.de/ )
The two artist met eachother at the "Speyer Stammtisch". A weekend, pipesmokers and -makers could meet eachother in Germany. As usual the artists brought some of their work with them.
Ralf took an unfinished "Arbogast" with him, only sanded, mouthpiece unpolished. Nobody was interested in that pipe except Roger. To make a long story short.. when the pipe was finished it found it's way to Saarland (Germany)
This is the one:
As a revenge Roger created a pipe and called it "Chicken Bone". Germany was really surprised. Roger Wallenstein, the "Nuckel"-artist made a pipe in the grand tradition of Gerhard Wilhelm and Ralf.
Ralf proudly presented it in the German Pipesmokers Forum.
Both pictures are taken by Ralf, published with his permission.
GJ
