GH.ZHANG: Dark Sandblasted Horn (Sergey Ailarov) (04) Tobacco Pipe

Guo Hui Zhang's passion for pipes began with his work as an importer and purveyor of pipe-making materials. Zhang's understanding of large-scale pipe logistics inspired an exciting idea: the mass production of high-quality, artisan pipes. In 2017, he opened the GH Zhang workshop and partnered with pipe makers around the world to achieve his vision. Each GH Zhang pipe is designed by a famous artisan pipe maker and shaped on a CNC machine before being finished by hand and fitted with stems by the team at GH Zhang. Offering more than 40 shapes in smooth and sandblasted finishes, each of which is serialized, GH Zhang presents pipe smokers with a rare opportunity to procure artisan-style pipes at an accessible price.

One of Russia's most prominent pipe-makers, Sergey Ailarov constantly thinks about pipe design, always sketching out his shapes before carving them. Ailarov draws on Danish, Japanese, and American pipe aesthetics for inspiration, which coalesce into his unique style that is put on proud display here by GH Zhang. This Ailarov "04" Horn by GH Zhang features a sinuous stummel that seamlessly transitions from the shank to the bowl, while two subtle ridgelines run the length of the flanks. Additionally, the rim is encircled by a pronounced, asymmetric ridge, which is a paralleled by the congruent ridges on the shank face and stem base, giving the composition a cohesive, flowing feel. This particular Ailarov "04" is dressed in a dark sandblast, the rugged texture of the briar's exposed growth rings exuding rustic appeal.