Sandblasted Bent Billiard with Horn (2102) Tobacco Pipe

Prior to receiving this piece from Li Zhesong, the second pipe the Chinese artisan produced in 2021, we'd never seen a bent Billiard from him before. Previous Billiards from Li have always been straight and usually featured bamboo shank extensions, making this particular composition quite noteworthy. That said, Zhesong is no stranger to producing bent pipes, with his angular Dublin and Acorn pieces readily coming to mind and demonstrating his immense talent. This offering may be the most deeply bent piece I've ever seen from the Chinese carver, with the shank-and-stem combination kicking dramatically upwards in almost Oom Paul fashion.

Those who love sandblasted finishes will also appreciate the crisp texture and mesmerizing grain Zhesong unveiled in this piece as tight, undulating waves of grain completely surround the bowl and radiate upwards to meet the softly rounded rim. The transition from bowl to shank is seamless, with the shank curving gently to join the horn ferrule that graces the shank end. The medium's dark hue pairs perfectly with the dark chocolate stain applied to the stummel, with the underlying light, creamy tones offering a hint of contrast. A brass inset ring surrounds the face of the horn accent for added reinforcement and to create a mount-style tenon configuration.