American Estates: Michael Lindner Smooth Blowfish with Zebrawood (Dragonfly) (2007) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

The son of a senior draftsman for General Motors, Michael Lindner grew up with an acute awareness for aesthetics. In the late 1990s, he opened up a tobacconist and soon decided to buy a lathe to incorporate pipe repairs and restorations into his business. Purchasing a few briar blocks from Mark Tinsky on a whim, he tried his hand at carving a pipe and developed a fervent passion for the craft. Lindner quickly became one of the most acclaimed American pipe makers, his naturalistic style evident in everything from his traditional shapes to inventive Freehands. Fitting with his nature oriented theme, Lindner exclusively uses organic accents such as exotic woods and mammoth ivory. Unfortunately, Lindner retired from pipe making in 2017, so his pieces are now available solely on the estate market.

This Blowfish by Michael Lindner showcases several remarkable, asymmetric design cues. Observed from the left flank, the profile masquerades as a bent Dublin with a bulging flank. However, from any other perspective the Blowfish elements are immediately apparent. A wrapping, rectangular ridgeline bisects the stummel as it runs along the undercurve, across the rim, down the aft, and along the top of the shank. The raised ridge on the right flank frames the triangular surface, a central nodule mimicking the construction of a similar curve on the left flank. These asymmetric, arcing ridges primarily serve to frame grain, which is neatly divided onto each specific surface on the chestnut-stained stummel. The main rectangular ridgeline showcases a sweeping stretch of cross grain that flows the length of the stummel, while each outward facing flank and facet swirls with mesmerizing birdseye. In fitting fashion for Lindner, he utilizes an accent of zebrawood on the shank end for an organic flourish, while the saddle stem is shaped from cumberland, giving this detailed composition a splash of eye-catching color.