Smooth Mushroom with Boxwood Tobacco Pipe

The Mushroom shape features a wide, inflated rim with the bulging curvature of its namesake, and in this example from the inimitable Jess Chonowitsch, that rim has been elevated by the inclusion of natural plateau surrounding the chamfer of the inner rim. The outer circumference of that rim is studded with intense birdseye and curves downward to the precise ridgeline that introduces the flanks.

The grain of the bowl is spectacular, with tight striations vertically climbing the flanks in a golden-hued, honey stain. The shank is defined by two crisp ridgelines running from the transition along the underside to the domed boxwood accent, which provides pleasant contrast of tone, while the base of the mouthpiece reduces to flat, saddle configuration following a thin expansion ring. Combining soft curvature, precise linework, and superb execution with the natural attributes of a truly rare block of superior briar, this is a pipe capable of eliciting the intake of breath for any knowledgeable aficionado.