Misc. Estates: Sabina Santos Smooth Double Calabash with Maple

Sabina Santos is a big fan of the Calabash as a shape, and has been experimenting with it for some time. While the traditional Calabash might be a deeply bent, sweeping piece with some litheness to its shank, this Double Calabash fuses the original design's condensation chamber with that of the reverse Calabash, making for a unique external appearance. A slight forward cant to the oval bowl and a thick, triangular shank make for an only slightly-bent take on the shape, though with just as much charm as the classic version.

The bowl has been topped with a cap of pale maple, presenting a sharp contrast to the darker, warmer finish of the stummel which brings out plenty of flame grain. At the base, we see two small areas of natural plateau, a detail common to Sabina's pipes, offering a touch of subtle organicism to otherwise structured shapes. In addition to that, the underside of the cap has been finished in a stain matching that of the stummel, while the condensation chamber has been lined with natural cork rather than synthetic — details only noticed by the smoker, rather than being simply aesthetic touches, but showing the amount of attention she is willing to give to every area of the pipe.