Smooth Bent Acorn with Boxwood Tobacco Pipe

There's an awful lot going on with this pipe from Alexander Tupitsyn, with the grain taking center stage. Fine, vertical lines of grain circumscribe the bowl, with no areas washing out into undefined grain. The top of the bowl is all birdseye and kissed with just a touch of plateau, which looks natural and integral to the pipe. The under-curve in profile is a smooth line, echoed by the curve at the top of the shank, which flares out at the mouthpiece juncture and is terminated by a boxwood ring. The saddle bit starts at the shank with a sharp, crisp edge and immediately steps down to the flat saddle. A compact design, though with full-sized bowl, its 5.3-inch length emphasizes the visual weight of the bowl. this piece shouts quality from every angle.