Misc. Estates: Ping Zhan Smooth Bent Dublin with 'Bamboo' Carved Horn (2019) Tobacco Pipe

Readily recognized as the work of Ping Zhan, this bent Dublin features a number of stylistic conventions that define the Chinese carver's portfolio. In silhouette, the form displays the same sinuous S-curve, protruding heel, and angled transition that marks many of Zhan's Danish-inspired Acorn renditions, albeit here with a squat, dramatically flaring Dublin bowl instead of a taller, high-waisted Acorn. The shank, then, fashioned from genuine horn, showcases one of Ping's highly innovative bamboo techniques, the stretched ferrule having been carved with a craggy knuckle to resemble the look of bamboo. The aesthetic plays with and intrigues the mind — the shape and profile calling to mind bamboo, yet contrasted against the obvious color palette and grain of horn. Last but certainly not least, this piece highlights a strong degree of asymmetry, a motif often seen across Zhan's work. It's most noticeable from the smoker's perspective: The line of the shank, stem, and bowl sidewinds subtly, the curves matching perfectly with the profile's bend and the overall flowing nature of the piece echoed in the rim's undulating orientation. It's stunning work from the Chinese artisan, and the balanced consistency between the profile's S-curve and the sidewinding observed from above does well to ground the piece and make for a coherent composition as a whole.