Doctor's: Sandblasted Tomato with Bamboo and Boxwood (Double Flash) Tobacco Pipe

Roman Kovalev, the artisan behind Doctor's pipes, crafts some of the most impressive and distinctive pipes in the world. The Russian carver's use of accenting materials is as unique as they come, his eye for design and deft hand for creating playfully organic forms as acutely honed as his technical skill and intention for his pipes to be expertly engineered smoking instruments. His work with bamboo in particular sets him apart from other pipe makers; he often selects wild, nonuniform sections of the organic medium and incorporates them in excitingly creative ways that elevate the entire composition.

Kovalev's tremendous talent is readily apparent on this Tomato as is his distinctive use of bamboo not merely as an accenting material, but as an element that serves a greater purpose in the grand scheme of the overall design. The abbreviated shank is extended with a gnarled bamboo ferrule, displaying a rugged, textured aesthetic that's furthered by accenting nodules of boxwood along its sides. Such a choice of bamboo adds an abundance of texture to the piece, both physically and visually, without distracting from the bowl's captivating grain and sublime shaping.

I'm particularly taken by the compressed nature exhibited by the bamboo ferrule and how it pairs perfectly with the shank's oval cross section. The bowl is proportionally large in relation to the shank and bamboo extension, attracting much of the visual focus. With all of the mesmerizing grain displayed around its flanks, there's no faulting Roman for emphasizing the bowl. The sandblast in light in terms of depth but has unveiled fascinating patterns of undulating grain around the rounded bowl, with the earthy brown stain further emphasizing this composition's organic inclinations. Earning Kovalev's Double Flash grade, this piece showcases how a visionary artisan can turn any pipe shape into something truly special.