Sandblasted Billiard Tobacco Pipe

To my eye, there's something of a streamlined Danish Moderne approach to this handsome straight Billiard shape from Hiroyuki Tokutomi, with its soft lift at the heel in profile, gentle forward cant, and easy, steady taper from transition to bit. It's quite a deviation from the carver's pieces which often showcase an organic playfulness by way of his use of "balanced asymmetry", though the juxtaposition of slight horizontal compression about the shank and elegant poise about the bowl makes for a handsome, elegant bit of shaping, especially as it's accentuated by an unyielding line traveling the length of the underside from bit to rim. Tokutomi opted for an understated, Danish-style blast, the bowl's rim kissed with a touch of smooth polish. A seriously cool piece.