American Estates: Yeti Smooth Bent Dublin with Bamboo (274) Tobacco Pipe

Micah Cryder is the young artisan behind Yeti pipes, his passion for the art of the craft imbued into him since his childhood, making him a fourth-generation pipe smoker. An autodidact for much of his career, he turned to pipe makers forums for information about carving before he found Premal Chheda, who furthered his knowledge of the craft considerably, especially with regard to the technical elements. Over the years, his abilities have become even more refined, each pipe made contributing to his skills and solidifying his unique shaping style, something which can be seen here in this bent Dublin.

The bowl itself is deceptively robust, being soft of line but quite thick-walled for plenty of insulation around the chamber, especially near the top. The rim is delineated by a naturally undulating crown of craggy plateau that dips low at the aft and rises high at the flanks. Said plateau is incredibly detailed and well-defined, Yeti having stained it darkly to contrast the hues of the rest of the stummel, its peaks stylistically echoed at the heel, thanks to rounded heel that pushes low, past the transition. Out back, Cryder has extended the shank with four knuckles of clean-lined bamboo. The organic material tapers naturally as it reaches toward the stem, and Cryder has accounted for this break in the rhythm by gently flaring the base of said stem to continue the flow, going so far as to round out toward the stummel at the flanks to emulate the large nodules present on the knuckles themselves. Said knuckles aren't completely parallel, adding a dose of asymmetry to the piece, and Micah has leaned into this aspect, shaping the base of the saddle stem at an angle to align it beautifully with the uneven face of the bamboo. Well crafted and gorgeously shaped, the whole piece maintains an organically dynamic motif, furthered by the immaculate flame grain that conforms exactingly to the lines of the bowl, all revealed beneath a vibrant ruby contrast stain.