Sandblasted Natural Bent Apple with Mammoth (Friar) (A23) (24) Tobacco Pipe

After developing an interest in pipes, Jody Davis began to collect them, learning everything about pipes that he could. His fascination lead him to a pre-drilled block of briar, and his pipe making journey began. As his skills grew, Davis received advice from pipe making legend Jess Chonowitsch. Davis' imaginative style is influenced by Danish aesthetics and contemporary American pipe making and favors compact, muscular shapes with curvaceous profiles, which is evident in both his evocative Freehands and traditional shapes.

It is always a pleasure to bear witness to one of Jody Davis' sandblasts, as they are always astonishingly good. Davis toes the line beautifully between a deep, craggy texture and highlighting each subtle undulation of every specific growth ring in stunning detail. Additionally, Davis does an equally spectacular job at showcasing cores of birdseye along the underside and wisps of flame grain on the bowl. Furthermore, the sandblast is dressed in a natural finish, making it prime for patination. The warm hues of the natural finish are complemented by the olive-green vulcanite stem and the creamy striations of the mammoth accent, giving this pipe a light color scheme that oozes organic appeal.

The shaping here is excellent as well, with the sinuous shank-and-stem arrangement being particularly eye-catching. The shank is slightly elongated, allowing it to exhibit a pronounced gestural bend in profile. In turn, the protracted stem presents a lithe taper to a trim bit, returning to parallel just above the rim. At the fore, the bowl is rendered in traditional proportions with a supple bowl and gentle taper, resulting in a familiar feel that fits effortlessly in one's hand. This bent Apple's sleek profile and classic dimensions are sure to please any collector.