Smooth Freehand Sphinx with Horn (401) Tobacco Pipe

While the previous Elephant's Foot we've seen from Micah Cryder was a sitter, with a jaunty, upright stance in profile, this piece is a very different take on the shape. Stretching in length rather than height, its bowl takes more of a low-slung approach, its soft ridges serving to define the shape, as well as frame the dense sea of birdseye at the fore. Behind, the waistline has been set high, giving a soft plumpness to the bowl, as well as gentle cant to the rim. The finish — a dark and smoky contrast stain — serves to maintain continuity throughout the piece as it flows through the shank, pairing splendidly with the natural coloring of a generous, natural horn mount. Really a spectacular piece.