Aside from being a lively, beautiful, and distinctive freehand design, the "Hornfish" something of a play on words - Horn shape plus fish-like swimming motion complete with exotic frills. Whether it's intentional or not, the shape also winds up bearing a curious resemblance to the show-bred
flower horn fish when viewed in profile. (And yes, apparently there is indeed a such thing as a show-bred fish.) Putting aside that aside, it really is an impressive example of the organic, flowing, asymmetric yet artfully balanced flourish that truly distinguishes the Japanese school of fine pipemaking.
- Eric N. Squires
