Sandblasted Tadpole with Ebonite and Durat Tobacco Pipe

Portuguese artisan Sabina Santos is one of few pipe makers in her country, and her work displays an impressively refined, thoroughly Danish sense of line that bolsters the impact of her ceaselessly impressive shaping style and finishing techniques. Santos has crafted several variations of the Tadpole shape that we've seen in the past, and each instance of the design displays her wealth of talent for sophisticated, dynamic design. The Tadpole itself is a unique, freehand shape reminiscent of the Speared Fish, with a separate shank that pierces into the lower walls of the bowl and this bowl comprising the entire stummel. This particular take on the profile is no exception, with the shank being a length of sandy Ebonite that reaches out and flares toward the junction. At the junction, Santos has accented the pipe with a broad band of vintage Durat: a composite polyester material that utilizes 30% recycled plastic to create vibrant patterns with contemporary palettes. The vibrant tones of the expressive material richly contrast the darker hues of the Ebonite shank and its matching saddle stem, creating a key locus of visual intrigue that pulls the eye toward the aft and balances the visual weight of the bowl. Said bowl is a tall, Egg-like structure that boasts some supple curvature throughout its walls, making for a comfortable feel in hand and resembling its namesake larval stage, especially given its curling tail. Where the heel would usually be, the bowl tapers and curls to the right before lifting and encircling the shank twice, traveling about halfway down before coming to a rounded point on the underside. The inclusion of this tail completes the organic reminiscence of this piece, and it's sure to stand out on any pipe rack. Dressed in a crisp, earthy sandblast, the stummel showcases rippling bands of growth rings flowing down the walls, its dark tones contrasted richly by the shank, stem, and Durat accent.