Partially Sandblasted Driver with Mammoth (Signature) (08.19) Tobacco Pipe

If you're yet unfamiliar with Wolfgang Becker's work, this bent Egg variant is a fine introduction. One of the German carver's signature shapes, this rendition is named the Driver, in recognition of its particularly tall bowl compared to similar pieces, giving it something of a club-like appearance that wouldn't be out of place on a golf course. Becker fell in love with pipes in the '80s, greatly admiring the work of Lars Ivarsson he saw in Pipe Club magazine, which eventually led to Wolfgang making his own pipes with help and advice from Klaus Hahn, another German artisan. Since then, Becker has become a highly esteemed pipemaker, his style readily recognizable through a utilization of bulbous forms, subtle asymmetry, and an all around playful approach to shaping.

This particularly hearty bent Egg exemplifies Wolfgang's signature aesthetic and is a shape the German carver has returned to time and time again over the years. In profile, the design is most notably defined by the palm-filling bowl. Despite its muscular mass, though, it showcases a surprising degree of dynamism in its forward cant, angled plateau rim, and sweeping heel, belying the form's thick-walled muscularity. Most characteristic of this signature Becker shape, however, is the shaping of the shank — when viewed from the smoker's perspective, the pinched, oval orientation is tilted slightly leftward, offsetting the transition and offering a playful sense of asymmetry. It's a touch subtle enough not to be evident in profile, but one that tastefully makes this piece a standout among other bent Egg renditions. The bowl on this piece is also noteworthy for its more elongated design, with a bit of extra mass around the middle, earning its Driver appellation thanks to its extra heft. Topping it all off, Wolfgang has accented this one with creamy mammoth at the shank face and a trim, stylized stem that keeps the visual weight bowl-focused and displays the carver's impressive craftsmanship.