Sandblasted Acorn (Kikuchi) (D) (085) Tobacco Pipe

Asami Kikuchi is no stranger to the Acorn shape. In fact, it's among the most common forms we've received from the talented carver thus far. From her Peewit-like iterations to more wasp-waisted ones, her variations are always spectacular, often with a strong focus on providing the most comfort in hand. For this piece, however, she went with something a little different. The softly rounded bevel of the rim is familiar, but Asami has lent far more height to the bowl itself, accentuating its stature with a stronger taper down to the base. The transition is also much lower in orientation compared to previous renditions, making for a smooth, sweeping gesture as the eye follows the arcing line of the underside. The result is a pipe with a chamber depth on par with that of a Stack, only in a much smoother, more organic style.

- Andrew Wike