Sandblasted Cobra with Masur Birch Tobacco Pipe

It's not the most elegant name, but this is one of what I'd call Kent's "humpback" designs. The distinctive element there is, of course, that emphasis of roundness on the rear face of the bowl, something that he seems to use as a means of aesthetically balancing a broad curve and strong lift at the fore. Taking Kent as a craftsman as well as artisan or artist, I can imagine this bit of shaping also serves a practical purpose: less restriction on where and how he positions the chamber, and ensuring that the rear edge of the chamber is not too acute, nor the wall too thin. When it comes to form vs. function, it's very easy when dealing with pipes of Kent's caliber to overlook the latter. Nonetheless one of the things that distinguishes many greats (whatever field of design they be working in) is the ability to come up with interesting forms that serve a function, and functional aspects that make for more interesting forms.

- Eric N. Squires