Alexander Tupitsyn: Sandblasted Bent Bulldog with Ivorite Tobacco Pipe

Along with the prevalent influence of Vladimir Grechukhin, Alexander Tupitsyn's work often reflects an appreciation for the legendary Poul Ilsted and the late Danish master's use of firm lines and precise panels. Those characteristics are readily visible on this bent Bulldog, with plenty of fascinating features packed into a pocket-friendly design. The Bulldog's signature diamond shank sweeps into the bowl's shaping effortlessly, the bottom ridgeline continuing into the bowl's base and giving it its lifted heel. This piece also maintains the form's conventional beadlines, its middle portion left smooth to match the chamfered rim and both united by a dark, smoky walnut stain. The Russian artisan has finished the majority of the stummel in a low-profile sandblast, unveiling a great deal of undulating ring grain below the beadlines without distorting the clean line work. A beautiful, creamy white accent adorns the saddle stem's base, offering some stunning contrast against the composition's dark color palette with tight striations offering some further visual intrigue.