Tsuge Ikebana Sandblasted Acorn (Ohi) (071) (2014) Tobacco Pipe

Tsuge Ikebana, which translates to "living flowers" from Japanese, is the name of Tsuge's premier workshop. Now run solely by Asami Kikuchi, the workshop was formerly a collective of three elite carvers led by the venerable Kazuhiro Fukuda, who traveled to Denmark to study under Sixten Ivarsson. The other two artisans were the aforementioned Asami Kikuchi and the maker of this superb piece: Yoshirou Ohi. Ohi worked as an independent pipe maker for many years before joining the workshop, and he brought a wealth of experience and unique style to Ikebana.

Though perhaps a touch more asymmetrical and organic, this beautiful piece from Yoshirou Ohi seems to be inspired by one of Jorn Micke's signature forms — a natural-esque Acorn with a high-set, extra-broad waistline and subtly protruding heel. This organic form is gracefully highlighted by the unique finish: a dark sandblast dresses the bowl, while the shank is left smooth in a contrasting chestnut stain.