Emiliano: Smooth Bent Egg with Mammoth Tobacco Pipe

While studying in seminary, Brazilian carver Emanuel de Queiroz Emiliano discovered pipe smoking and quickly developed a love for the hobby. Through pipe smoking, he eventually found the artisan work of his fellow countrymen Gustavo Cunha of MarTelo pipes and Flávia Rodrigues. Inspired by their creativity and craftsmanship, Emiliano decided to try his hand at carving a pipe and created his first piece using a drill and a sander. He found immediate success and was flooded with commissions. Over time, he established a workshop in Curitiba, Brazil and continued to develop his skills, seeking tutelage from Angelo Fassi and Angelo del Prete of Il Cerchio pipes. Emiliano crafts a wide range of pipes, from distinctive, sculpture-inspired Freehands to more traditional shape-chart standards, with this bent Egg being an example of the latter.

At less than five inches in total length, this piece is a compact take on the classic form, its reduced length and light weight making it perfect for on-the-go smoking. As is traditional for the form, this piece boasts a tall bowl that stands at the fore of an upturned shank and a demurely curved saddle stem, the latter of which promotes a comfortable smoking posture. The bowl's supple contours conform naturally to the hand, while the wide transition offers ample space to drape a digit. A pronounced undercurve unites the fore and aft sides of the composition, and lends an elegant fluidity to the shape's silhouette. A smoky smooth finish dresses the stummel and highlights gorgeous flame grain and birdseye across the bowl, while an accent of mammoth adorns the junction and ties the shape together with a touch of complementary color.