Sandblasted Dublin with Bakelite Tobacco Pipe

A pipe that exemplifies a number of Micah "Yeti" Cryder's signature design cues, this Dublin pairs robust, compact proportions with a vivid, modern color palette. Cryder's portfolio is saturated with Dublin renditions, and the American artisan often carves ones defined by pocket-friendly proportions. Such a Nosewarmer is offered here, hearty and muscular but barely over four inches in overall length. Thick, insulating walls surround the chamber for adequate protection, and the tanblasted finish has brought out striking ring grain that ripples up the bowl before bursting into a rim of plateau. Most striking, however, and most indicative of Micah's style is his use of Bakelite. The material is an old medium, often displaying unique, colorful patterns, and has seen a resurgence across artisan pipe making. It's a time-consuming material to work with, and when it comes to Bakelite stems, Cryder is one of the most prolific carvers. He's fitted this Dublin with one of vibrant, watermelon-pink, complementing the stummel's light palette and made all the more intriguing by the subtle, creamy swirls of the stem for complex visual depth.