Doctor's: Smooth Carved Bent Apple with Bamboo (Double Flash) Tobacco Pipe

Roman Kovalev of Doctor's Pipes is renowned for his use of bamboo. While he wasn't the first to incorporate the organic medium in pipe making, he's regarded as the pioneer of utilizing ultra-craggy, nonuniform pieces — a style that's become a theme among various other artisan carvers. This bamboo used on this bent Apple isn't particularly asymmetrical; however, the knuckles are uniquely scalloped and scale-like, seeming to urge backward in their curled spurs along the underside. Aligning with these spurs, Kovalev has attached the bamboo, which the Russian carver dug himself, to the briar shank at a different level, creating another spur to continue the bamboo's momentum. The bowl's heel protrudes forward, with the aft line above the transition canted back. Such an aesthetic lends the profile a strong dynamism, the back-leaning posture giving the impression that the pipe is speeding forward — just as when a car rapidly accelerates, all passengers are pressed back against their seats. Of particular note is the bowl's left flank. It's the first pipe we've received from Roman that features spot carving, the left side displaying a raised, grooved texture reminiscent of crisp coral and making for quite the unique and intriguing in-hand feel.