Sandblasted Bent Egg with Orangewood Tobacco Pipe

Immediately recognizable as the work of Jared Coles, this bent Egg exemplifies the fluid gesture and subtle intricacy for which the American artisan is known. At first glance, the design appears quite standard and reserved, but closer examination reveals Coles' artistry at work. The bowl is robust and rounded as the Egg shape demands, conforming well to wrapped fingers and housing a generous chamber inside. The shank flows behind with balanced proportions, and two ridgelines define the lower flanks, traveling to the shank end which Coles has embellished with subtle design cues: Left smooth, the shank face curls and waves with hints of asymmetry and the grace of a flower petal. Moreover, its edge is defined by a slender panel that remains consistent despite the face's meandering profile. With a countersunk mortise, the stem base rests inside the face, and the split stem of orangewood and vulcanite bespeak a high level of craftsmanship while also blending well with the shank face's lighter stain. This stain is matched by the rim, while the rest of the stummel bears a dark sandblast that highlights the briar's natural growth rings in handsome relief.