Smooth Blowfish with Boxwood Tobacco Pipe

When it comes to the Blowfish shape, many independent artisans seem to really exaggerate the form, adding all sorts of complementary flaring or flourishing lines, asymmetry, or even elongation into the design. And this is the norm. Very few actually approach the shape from the other direction and attempt to capture the very essence of what it means to be a Blowfish. Fortunately, Sam Cui is one of those few, and he's offered us with a gorgeous interpretation here — stripping down all the unnecessary complexities often found in this particular shape class to present the design in its most minimalist form. Its compact proportions and impressively light weight both work to reinforce this minimalism, with each ridge and convex/concave panel serving an actual function: that of perfectly framing the block's striking cross-cut grain pattern. Seriously impressive work.

- Andrew Wike