Smooth Blowfish with Tagua Nut (Cardinal) (A17) (19) Tobacco Pipe

This style of Cubist Blowfish is a signature shape from Jody Davis, taking that iconic Tokutomi-esque asymmetry in the cross-section and applying it to a rather hard-lined, architectural, almost Dublin-like form. In many ways it calls to mind the look of an old French design, one I can't remember seeing an exact name for but which featured a high-set transition and a paneled arrangement to the bowl itself, as well as a pronounced taper to the fore. As striking as the design itself is at first glance, it's the subtle details about the piece that really show Jody's deft hand.

Take a look at the triangular plane of plateau along the left flank and shank end, for example. While many makers would merely employ darker, craggier plateau to create negative space or a sense of the organic within a composition, Jody's actually used it to accentuate movement here — scooping out the briar around the plateau to afford it greater definition and prominence both in hand and in profile. That subtle beveling works alongside the shape's pronounced, geometric lines to guide the eye naturally from end to end.

Then, of course, you have the grain. Jody's simply a master when it comes to shaping a block of briar to best accentuate its natural grain patterns, and that certainly shows here in this piece — with stunning crossgrain and vivid birdseye all on display. The tagua nut mount is an excellent choice as well, and Jody's executed it beautifully, scalloping the left side to mimic the undulating look of the plane of plateau just beneath it.

- Andrew Wike