Doctor's: Smooth Acorn with Bamboo and Tulipwood (Double Flash) Tobacco Pipe

Roman Kovalev is a Russian carver with a particularly unique background. He spent many years as a pediatric neurologist, and during that time, he smoked hundreds of pipes from artisans from around the world. He became obsessed with the artistry and functionality of the craft, paying close attention to how a pipe looked and smoked. With the same ferocity and enthusiasm that led to his success as a race car builder and distillery owner, Kovalev began fashioning pieces under the Doctor's name, a nod to his previous profession. His work showcases a penchant for organic, soft-featured shapes and the utilization of nontraditional accent materials, such as wildly shaped bamboo and other exotic hardwoods.

As is typical for Kovalev, this Acorn measures less than five inches long, making it a compact design that's perfect for on-the-go smoking. Shape-wise, this piece boasts a plump, full-bodied bowl that flares from its firm, protruding heel to its broad, rounded rim. Said bowl is positioned at the fore of a sinuously bent shank-and-stem arrangement that adds a good deal of gesture to the shape's silhouette, all while promoting a comfortable smoking posture. The shank is extended by a craggy ferrule of bamboo that's topped with a cap of tulipwood. These unique accenting materials lend an organic flair to the composition's aft side and harmonize naturally in color with the stummel's warm, honey-hued stain. A glossy smooth finish dresses the stummel and highlights gorgeous tendrils of flame grain across the bowl's flanks. Having earned Kovalev's Double Flash grade, this piece is an exceptional showcase of the Russian artisan's style.