American Estates: Scott Klein Smooth Bent Dublin (Signature) (2012) Tobacco Pipe

Handy and compact, with a stout, muscular presence, this bent Dublin from Scott Klein is an older piece that earned the American carver's highest Signature grade. It's beautifully curvaceous and not without a sense of crisp rigidity thanks to the teardrop line running through the shank and up the bowl on the left side, perfectly framing the profile's consistent undercurve. The transition is tight and well defined, separating shank and bowl, and the shank echoes the bowl's flare and matches its robust proportions for a balanced and sturdy aesthetic. Excellent grain can be admired across the stummel, with flame grain engulfing the bowl's flanks, while spots of plateau kiss the rim for subtle accents.