Smooth Natural Bent Dublin with Horn Tobacco Pipe

Enamored with woodworking from an early age, as much of his childhood was spent in the workshop of his grandfather, Brazilian artisan Luiz Lavos' gravitation toward pipe making was inspired by his uncle, who was an avid enthusiast of pipes. His path in this regard was additionally influenced by his experience with graphic design, allowing him to create innovative and unique designs, many of which are rooted in the classic Danish tradition. This kind of Danish leaning was reinforced through his time spent with Hans "Former" Nielsen, who taught him finishing techniques and further reinforced his already palpable talent.

The bent Dublin is a shape widely carved by many artisans, and iterations of the profile occasionally make up the bulk of certain carvers' portfolios. It is, however, quite rare among the pipes crafted by Luiz Lavos, and even among those he has carved, this particular iteration is quite different. What captures my attention here most immediately is the strikingly gestural nature of the outline here, reminiscent of the Pickaxe given the pronounced and pointed heel which acts as the center of this pipe's visual weight. Atop this heel stands a tall, flaring bowl that expands out to a chamfered rim, the flare itself being a measured, easy expansion that speaks to a classical character, maintaining its hold on the visual weight without overdramatizing the outline. Out back, a rather wide transition gives way to a lifting, tapering shank whose trim length meets a flaring fitment of horn, the base of this extension terminating in a brass-lined dome that pressure-mounts a lengthy, demurely curved saddle stem. What results is a gracefully arcing silhouette possessed of a languid curvature through the aft side, balanced smartly by its bowl, something that takes on a floral persona thanks to its trumpeting construction. Dressed in a glossy natural finish, the stummel here is wrapped with cross grain through its midsection, with the flanks both drenched in dense birdseye, the creamy horn accent and black vulcanite stem offering handsome contrast.