Smooth Blowfish Tobacco Pipe

A return to one of the first shapes we saw from the carver, this Ping Zhan Blowfish is a striking piece, with a good dose of influence from Tokutomi's model of balanced asymmetry with the shape. A crisp teardrop line flows down its center, with ridged panels at its flanks — all artfully arranged to show off the best of the briar's grain. In this area, in fact, the piece is spectacular — that center ridge neatly dividing birdseye from crossgrain, with the flanking panels creating a vivid column of the latter stretching through the piece, with birdseye replete on each cheek. On the left flank, in particular, a patch of plateau has been left in its natural, craggy state, surrounded by smooth polisehd birdseye, with just the slightest touch of plateau also remaining at the shank-end. The dramatic, warm contrast stain puts all of these details on proud display, making for an all-around impressive piece.

- Rachel DuBose