Alexander Tupitsyn: Partially Sandblasted Bent Dublin Tobacco Pipe

The firm line of the underside of this bent Dublin is a particularly important feature, taking things from traditional and elegant to sleek and modern. That's the charm of Alexander Tupitsyn's work — his ability to combine elements into something that is congruent, despite a mixture of styles. The teardrop lines that come with the shank are quite crisp, giving some structure to the piece, and reinforcing the trim taper of its broad and tall bowl, all while maintaining quite a low line of shank altogether. It's finished in a crisp sandblast and a subtle contrast stain, which really shows off Alexander's eye for grain — the sandblast bringing out neatly-stacked rings, while the stain highlights densely-packed flame. At the rim, however, is the most impressive element: a smooth-polished spread of birdseye, brought out by a lighter contrast.