Clark Layton Sandblasted Fish with Cocobolo (2019) Tobacco Pipe

The Fish is a pipe shape with roots in Danish pipe design, specifically as executed by Jess Chonowitsch and Lars Ivarsson. In essence, the shape features a rounded bowl (often falling between Apple, Egg, or Brandy shapes) fitted to a shank that displays a teardrop cross-section. Such shaping orients a crisp ridgeline along one side; sometimes artisans will terminate that hard line at the transition, or they'll continue it through the bowl for added structure and accenting flourish. With this rendition from Clark Layton, the bowl is more Apple-like and the transition and shank are slightly stretched. Overall, it's quite the compact take on the Danish form, and Layton opted to continue the shank's flanking ridgeline all the way through the bowl, curling it up the fore to terminate at the rim. It adds intriguing texture in hand, apparent even over top the textured sandblast of the stummel. Wearing a lighter stain, this piece will darken with handsome patina as it's smoked, its palette continuing to contrast tastefully against the subtle cocobolo accent.