Sandblasted Blowfish Reverse Calabash (Ohi) (F) (230) (2016) Tobacco Pipe

Yoshirou Ohi's work is some of the more complex I've seen, even from the elegant lineup that comes from the Tsuge Ikebana workshop. In this compact piece, what we have is something markedly different from the traditional Blowfish, though it is just as stunning — flanks of birdseye, yes, and in profile it might seem to be a plump, well-rounded take on the shape. From above, however, its lines become more apparent — with a crisp ridge dividing the piece at the fore, feeling almost compressed horizontally, enhancing its compact feel in hand and allowing the sandblasted finish to really stand out. At the rear, the lifting shank is almost as prominent as the bowl itself, a feature that allows for reverse Calabash drilling inside. This is a case where "minimalist" fits as a descriptor, though only technically — as a whole, the piece does not lean on accents or flash, but on simplicity. At the details, however, not a single millimeter has been overlooked, which gives it the stunning quality that we expect from Tsuge Ikebana.