Sandblasted Fish with Cocobolo (Friar) (C22) (34) Tobacco Pipe

The Fish is a pipe shape with roots in Danish pipe design, specifically as executed by Jess Chonowitsch and, to an extent, Lars Ivarsson. In essence, the shape typically features a rounded bowl (often falling between Apple, Egg, or Brandy shapes) fitted to a shank that displays a teardrop cross section. Such shaping orients a crisp ridgeline along one side. sometimes artisans will terminate that hard line at the transition, or they'll continue it through the bowl for added structure and accenting flourish. Jody Davis presents his own Fish rendition here, exemplifying his stellar shaping abilities, gorgeous accent work, and talent in the blasting cabinet.

For this piece, Davis has shaped the teardrop shank's ridgeline so that it continues through the transition, wraps across one side of the bowl, and curves up the bowl's fore. This shaping cue lends an asymmetry to the overall composition, with one half of the stummel displaying a rigid, structural edge and the other half displaying a fuller, rounder figure. Mirroring the bowl's full-bodied build, the shank here is quite wide, and it slopes at a steep angle as it curls upward toward the curved saddle stem. An accent of cocobolo wood adorns the shank end and adds a touch of warmth to the pipe's otherwise reserved color palette. A crisp sandblast dresses the stummel and draws out radiating growth rings across the flanks of the bowl, adding a wealth of texture and visual intrigue to this already stylish design.