Sandblasted Jequitibá Jatobá with Laca Tobacco Pipe

Brazilian artisan Gustavo Cunha is the creative mind behind marTelo pipes, his longtime fascination with woodworking evident in his refined craftsmanship. Throughout his career, Cunha has drawn from an eclectic set of inspirations, influenced not only by classic Anglo-French and Danish schools of design, but also by iconography of his home country, the latter of which is illustrated in his signature Jatobá shape. Showcasing the carver's playful side, the Jatobá has seen a variety of interpretations within marTelo's portfolio, with the unifying characteristic being its tall, slender bowl that evokes the likeness of fruit borne from the jatobazeiro tree, of which it derives its name.

This iteration of the shape, however, eschews the Jatobá's steady curvature in favor of a more Acorn-esque design, drawing inspiration from the seed pods of the jequitibá tree. As such, the composition here sees a tall, forward-ebbing bowl perched up front, its walls flaring from the pointed heel toward a subtle, high-set ridgeline, which then marks a quick taper to the rim, the overall figure contouring well to the hand. Additionally, the bowl houses a deep chamber that's sure to offer leisurely smoking sessions. A low-slung transition out back gives way to a slender, upturned shank that meets a sleek tapered stem, the pair accentuating the bowl's forward momentum. The stummel wears a dark, crisp sandblast that reveals waves of rippling growth rings wrapping around the briar, with this pipe's reserved palette offered a touch of contrast by a swirling, black-and-white lacquer accent, known as "laca" in Portuguese, adorning the shank's base.