Japanese Estates: Tsuge Ikebana Smooth Shark (089) (2021) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

This Shark by the artisans of Tsuge Ikebana is a fine piece, combining sleekness and muscularity with graceful precision. Unlike other Freehand designs whose names immediately evoke their form, this piece isn't an exacting depiction of its namesake animal. Instead, the lines and gesture of the overall pipe hint at the swift, powerful motion of the ocean titan. Most notable is the bowl's forward protrusion: The front of the rim comes to a soft point, not unlike a shark's nose in profile, which creates a ridge that wraps around the bowl. Said bowl maintains a squat demeanor, and its stoutness is matched by the tapered, upturned shank — such muscularity combining with the composition's dynamic line work in a similar manner to a powerful shark's unexpected grace through water.

The shank continues the firm ridge that extends from fore of the bowl and down its flanks through to the edge of the flaring, lenticular shank face. The domed rear of the stummel is fitted with a petite vulcanite saddle stem that offers an improbably comfortable clench. Dressed in a rich chestnut stain, the stummel is shaped in perfect harmony with its natural grain patterns, the heel coated in dense birdseye, while tight flame grain encircles the bowl's midriff, giving way to more birdseye around the inner rim.