Richard Garofalo

Rich Garofalo is probably not a name you are familiar with, but he’s been carving pipes for nearly 40 years. An Illinois native, Rich was taught by Bob Rowe of the Evening Pipe Shop in Park Ridge, Illinois. Today, Rich continues the craft much as he was taught so many years ago.

Unlike many contemporary American artisans, you won’t find canon shapes in Rich’s repertoire. Instead of rehashing common shapes, Rich lets each individual block of briar dictate its form. This method of pipe carving was once much more common, especially among first wave American freehand carvers, when information disseminated much more slowly and techniques were shared less. The result is that Rich’s work is almost entirely his own, and without the influence of what’s become popular and derivative, is reminiscent of the mid-century American freehands that have their own devoted following.

Each Garofalo pipe is the result of countless hours of intricate hand sanding to a very high grit. Rich aims to bring out the best grain in every block, never forcing the form but working with it. Occasionally accent materials are added to enhance rather than distract from the composition. The result is a freehand pipe that is entirely organic in form, like a living creature. Each one is an unique visual and ergonomic feast.

We hope you appreciate Rich’s singular approach to pipe making. They are most certainly a labor of love, and we think it shows.