Having started his adult life in the unrelated fields of Philosophy, Spanish, and finally finance, Ernie Markle began carving quite quickly after being introduced to the world of artisan pipes. Initially self taught, he later spent time in the workshops of Brad Pohlmann and Jeff Burt-Gracik.

An extremely dedicated and meticulous carver, Markle doesn't take shortcuts in his designs. From stem work to each and every finish, all of Ernie's creations are made by hand. Through dynamic lines and muscular proportions, he's succeeded in fashioning some of the most powerful and poised profiles in the business, drawing inspiration from the Danish tradition as well as other modern American artisans.