Misc. Estates: Andreas Bennwik Partially Sandblasted Bent Dublin Tobacco Pipe

A pipe designed to showcase contrasting motifs, this bent Dublin from Andreas Bennwik caters to the Swedish carver's signature style of creatively modifying classic shapes. In profile, the form is beautifully elegant and sinuous in gesture, flowing seamlessly through the shank, transition, and bowl, but in hand, subtle rigidity accents that curvature: Ridgelines travel through the shank — along the flanks and underside — creating panels underneath the domed top of the shank. The hard lines curl through the transition in unison with the bowl, gradually dissipating before reaching the rim.

Continuing this theme of juxtaposition, Bennwik has dressed this pipe in a partial sandblast, contrasting both texture and color palette. The rim and shank face are smooth-finished in a rich, walnut contrast stain, while the rest of the stummel wears a dark stain and a sandblasted finish, subtle in tactile texture but wonderfully detailed in grain definition. It all combines for a pipe of conveniently compact proportions, but with no shortage of aesthetic aspects to appreciate.