Bill Shalosky: Sandblasted Tomato with Tulipwood (664) Tobacco Pipe

When asked about the pipes that inspired him, Bill Shalosky points to "every pipe ever made," which makes sense when viewing the diverse range of shapes within his portfolio. His work can range from classic shape-chart standards to highly stylized, Danish-inspired pieces, but whatever Shalosky ends up crafting, his love of pipe making, in all its many aspects, is on full display. He has fashioned pieces for BriarWorks, Smoker's Haven, and Chheda Pipes, so he has considerable experience, which is clearly evident when considering this Tomato offering.

A robust piece, this Tomato fits in well with contemporary American styles, which often draw from Danish shaping cues, while inflating the proportions to more fully fill the hand. As such, the stummel offers a good deal of heft, featuring a broad, plump bowl characterized by thick walls and an organic sense of asymmetry as the heel is lifted higher on the right flank, giving the bowl the appearance of twisting in that direction. More than just a visual flair, the asymmetry creates an ergonomic presence in hand that smokers will appreciate. Beginning at the heel, a single firm ridgeline is oriented perfectly with the stummel's grain, sweeping through the defined transition and up shank, surging outward as it does so to create a broad, semi-lenticular cross section. The broad shank face joins to a diminutive saddle stem of black vulcanite, accented with a broad ring of tulipwood. Dressed in a rich, earthy sandblast, the stummel offers a wealth of finely texture grain that will delight the fingers as well as the eyes.