Misc. Estates: Konstantin Shekita Smooth Brandy with Wenge Tobacco Pipe

Renowned for his wild Freehands and insane Lattice-carved pieces, Konstantin Shekita here presents a comparatively reserved and traditional shape with this straight Brandy. It's a handsome interpretation from the Ukrainian artisan, with the chubby bowl subtly tapering from its broad, low-set waistline up toward the rim. The grain follows the bowl's shaping wonderfully, with streaks of vertical grain rising in concert with the shape's natural taper. Cheeking around the transitions maintains the bowl's curvaceousness with the stout shank seamlessly continuing the bowl's heartiness. Accenting the shank end and the stem base are accents of wenge — an African hardwood native to the Congo, Cameroon, Gabon, and Equatorial Guinea, with the medium's warm hue pairing nicely with the stummel's walnut stain.