Partially Sandblasted Bent Apple with Boxwood (Double Wolf Paw) Tobacco Pipe

It was the sight of Lars Ivarsson pipes in a 1987 issue of Pipe Club magazine that inspired Wolfgang Becker to begin his own pipemaking journey. Though Wolfgang has certainly developed a great deal, in terms of shaping, to make his own works distinct, there are still times where the Lars-inspiration is clear. Long-shanked shapes, in particular, come to mind. Wolfgang's bowl here is more organic (basically a more subdued take on his own Wasp shape's usual bowl form), the shank more flared, and the step from shank-end to stem far more pronounced, compared to what I would usually expect from Lars. That said, you can still see a common root between this pipe's design and, say, a Lars Ivarsson long-shanked bent Brandy. The most important part of that is the basic idea of making a beautiful and interesting shape from but a few, very smooth lines — something Wolfgang has mastered in his own style.

- Eric N. Squires