Sandblasted Blowfish (Lion) Tobacco Pipe

Am I in love? Heck, if it wasn't for the fact that this fugu is insisting on hyphenating its name ("Mrs. Fugu Skovgaard-Graves", what's up with that?!) I'd be ready to buy this pipe an engagement ring and start monogramming towels! Lasse Skovgaard Jorgensen does not do a lot of blowfish and, when he does, they tend to vary quite a bit from what we have come to think of as the Danish template. Lasse adheres to the loosely "agreed" template as far as an arcing center line, but allows great freedom of flare in the center panel, adding some fin-like hints near the rim, the arc deliciously subtle. The restraint pays off (in a big way) by increasing an already decent amount of implied movement within the bowl. The grain panels are both a bit unorthodox and delightful in their relief.

--Bear Graves