Smooth Bent Apple (Kikuchi) (E) (011) (2020) Tobacco Pipe

Barely surpassing four inches in length, this bent Apple form Asami Kikuchi presents a compact pipe of balanced weight distribution and easily-pocketed, tight-knit proportions. The Japanese artisan fashions pipes under the Tsuge Ikebana name — a workshop comprised of three artisans, each distinct in their style but united under the Ikebana name. Kikuchi's style often favors stout, rounded pieces such as this one, presenting a comfortable in-hand feel. The bowl urges forward slightly from the defined transition, which accentuates the curvature of the lower bowl, and its waistline is slightly low-set for a squat, Brandy-like inclination. Most striking in this composition, though, is the shank-and-stem combination: The shank curls dramatically upward in a hearty flare, the face almost coming in line with the rim, and such a tight upward turn prompts the fully bent recurve of the stem, making for a nosewarmer with comfortable, jaw-hanging capacity. It's all dressed in a stunning honey-blonde contrast stain, highlighting vertical grain across the flanks and swathes of birdseye along the underside.