Smooth Eskimo (Snail) (M) Tobacco Pipe

A living legend in the world of pipe making, Tom Eltang has spent decades plying his craft, and over the course of his storied career, he's influenced countless carvers. Taking note from the Danish Functionalist movement, Eltang tends to craft pipes with an emphasis on practicality and engineering. That's not to say his pipes aren't stylish — they most certainly are — but Eltang prefers to utilize ostentatious aesthetics as a complementary component, not as the main focus. His impeccable style and deft shaping skills are especially notable when considering his signature shapes, such as this Eskimo.

Originally inspired by Sixten Ivarsson's Ukulele shape, Eltang's Eskimo features an immediately recognizable profile, in part due to the form's flat shank, which accentuates the bowl's rotund form. This particular rendition features a broad, Saucer-like bowl that stands at the fore of the composition and resembles a Rhodesian bowl, what with its single wrapping beadline and sharply tapered rim. The shank, wide and flat, is something of an optical illusion, as, when viewed in profile, it appears as a thin strip of briar that naturally bridges the bowl to the demure mouthpiece. However, when the shank is viewed from above, it appears as a wide expanse of briar that matches the bowl in terms of width. No matter the view taken, the shank provides the perfect visual accompaniment to the composition. To further cement this piece's visual appeal, a warm, ruby-hued smooth finish dresses the stummel and highlights impeccable grain across the briar, with gorgeous whorls of birdseye dominating the top of the rim and shank, alike. Having earned Eltang's distinguished "Snail" grade, this piece is a stunning shape that's sure to appeal to those with an eye for masterful designs.