Sandblasted Black Bean with Bamboo and Supertusk Tobacco Pipe

Chinese artisan Ping Zhan has over a decade of experience in the pipe making world. Drawing inspiration from both the Danish and Japanese schools of design, Zahn's portfolio often sees gestural designs imbued with organicism. This Black Bean is a fine showcase of Zahn's expert craftsmanship, and it's the first rendition of this unique shape we have seen from the artisan. The bowl is compressed horizontally, similar to an Opera, and features an Acorn-like flare to a domed rim, resulting in a bean-like look in silhouette. Said rim is asymmetrical and overlooks a broad, shallow chamber, its forward-urging stance guiding the eye to the fore. Out back, a trim shank is extended by two dark knuckles of bamboo that lend an organic flourish to the pipe's aft. The stem is shaped to match the bamboo's rhythm and is made of Supertusk, a rare material we have yet to see from any other artisan. Supertusk is the closest material to ever resemble genuine ivory, similar to Ivorite, and is made by consolidating powdered bone and ivory with protein binders. The pale Supertusk stem and accent band elegantly contrast the dark sandblast up front, which showcases intricate grain throughout.