Smooth Dublin with Bamboo Tobacco Pipe

A brilliant representation of Ray Kurusu's overall aesthetic, this lengthy Dublin from the gifted carver is a beautiful fusion of Danish and Japanese shaping cues. Pipe makers from both countries have had a significant impact on Ray's own work, but the Japanese artisan possesses the ability to take his influences and utilize them in such a way that still allows his own style to shine through. The rim's wavering crown of plateau showcases Kurusu's skill in controlled asymmetry, using it sparingly to imply organicism within a classic design.

The bowl's shaping perfectly follows the grain orientation of this piece of briar, with fine tendrils of flame grain rising in concert with the Dublin bowl's archetypal flare before erupting into the dimpled plateau that comprises the undulating rim. Additional organicism is supplied by the four knuckles of light-blonde bamboo that extend the shank, displaying excellent rhythmic spacing between each knuckle before its end terminates in a softly rounded ring. The base of the vulcanite stem is rather bulbous, expanding outward before stepping down to a flattened configuration that tapers with ease and grace to the lip button.