Bill Shalosky: Sandblasted Gourd with Pink Ivory (346) Tobacco Pipe

My fondness for Bill Shalosky's curve-laden numbers is no secret. And the especially tight-knit, compact ones, such as this handy Gourd, really catch my eye. Treading the line between playful and slightly modernist, it offers a substantial plumpness in hand, while still retaining a near-nosewarmer disposition. In profile, it shows a touch of implied momentum, with its forward-reaching lip-like rim and succinct upward-reaching shank and stem, the latter wearing a domed base to echo the roundness of the bowl. Coupled with that, the dark, light-depth sandblasted texture it wears offers a handsome texture both visually and in hand, along with a fine complement to the practically pearlescent pink ivory accent at the shank's end. A knock out piece from the talented American carver.

- Daniel Bumgardner