American Estates: Rad Davis Sandblasted Bent Dublin (2009) Tobacco Pipe

An experienced American artisan, Rad Davis has been smoking pipes since the 1970s and carving them since 2003, his years of experience resulting in some truly exciting pieces that showcase his unique design outlook. This bent Dublin is a sinuous take on the classic shape, complete with a defined S-curve throughout the profile that poises this piece for comfortable smoking. A wide transition gives way to a curling shank and a sleekly tapering stem of smartly downturned cumberland, the junction marked by a trim band of pale material. Up front, the bowl stands atop a very slightly lifted heel and grows thick, flaring walls that expand up to a broad rim and insulate a capacious chamber, all while canting forward dynamically. The distribution of the visual weight here is rather even, with enough thickness through the shank and stem to balance out some of the bowl's impressive presence, though said bowl still stands out as the visual center of this piece. Dressed in a crisp tanblast, the stummel showcases dense stacks of ring grain across the bowl, the light tones of the finish ripe for future patination.