Partially Sandblasted Volcano Tobacco Pipe

Chinese artisan Lv Zelong's fascination with pipes began in 2009, when he took up pipe smoking as a hobby. Quickly becoming enamored with the aesthetic beauty of handcrafted pipes, he sought the advice and instruction of fellow Dalian native Ping Zhan, who along with Lan Zhenjun, mentored the young artisan. Their influence can be found Zelong's work, as well as that of Danish masters, which, combined with Zelong's own artistic eye, create a unique, organic style.

This deeply bent Volcano is a fine example of Zelong's keen eye for shaping, as well his excellent sandblasting. The bowl features a gestural, forward-urging rim, mirrored by the insistent ridgeline that surges at the fore before sweeping back into the transition, the arc of its outline mirrored by the supple curvature of the broad heel. Out back, a high-kicking shank displaying a semi-paneled triangular cross section joins a comfortably bent saddle stem of hand-cut black vulcanite. Dressed in a rich auburn contrast stain, the sandblasted stummel boasts impeccably textured grain around the bowl, while the smooth rim displays touches of birdseye. Most impressive is the finishing work on the bottom of the shank: It's left smooth to reveal more birdseye, bordered by firm ridges, with Zelong having blended the smooth section into the sandblast to masterfully combine the two finishes.