Smooth Natural Sphinx with Horn (Chantilly) Tobacco Pipe

Like the Elephant's Foot, the Sphinx is an old Bo Nordh shape that has since become a staple in artisan pipe making, with many carvers putting their own creative spin on the design. As a shape, the Sphinx is defined by a crisp ridgeline that bifurcates the bowl along its horizontal axis and comes to a sharply defined, spur-like point along the heel. This rendition from J. Mouton perfectly captures the shape's signature outline and orientates it at a slight angle— a shapaing choice that accentuates the bowl's curved, protruding fore wall and produces the form's pointed spur near the transition. An angled transition follows the bowl and marks the start of an upturned shank that quickly gives way to a long ferrule of horn. This ferrule flares outward to a broad face, its gradual expansion drawing the eye to the pipe's aft and emphasizing the saddle stem's demure arc. The horn's bright complexion complements the finish, a warm, natural stain that highlights impressive birdseye and cross grain around the bowl.