Jerry Zenn: Partially Sandblasted Rhodesian with Bamboo Tobacco Pipe

A talented carver from Kaohsiung, Taiwan, Jerry Zenn spent 25 years as an automotive mechanic before taking up artisanal pipe making. His previous career meant he was used to working with his hands and problem solving — not to mention the tooling and machining required — so pipe making must have seemed like an obvious extension of his prior trade. He quickly rose to prominence and is now one of East Asia's premier carvers, and his work showcases a deep admiration for organic shapes and a unique eye for even the smallest of details.

This Rhodesian demonstrates Zenn's considerable skill. It features the form's characteristic domed rim and wrapping beadline, but Zenn has compressed the bowl a tad horizontally, flattening it a bit for a more Saucer-like appearance. The lifted heel lends a gestural poise to the bowl, pushing it upwards and outwards for a sense of forward-driving momentum. The abbreviated shank is extended by craggy, nonuniform nodes of bamboo. The bright, warm color of the natural material lightens the composition, contrasting against the jet-black vulcanite stem and the shadowy complexion of the stummel's sandblast. The rim also lends a touch of contrasting color, as it has been left smooth and stained in an auburn hue. Measuring less than five inches from bowl to bit, this piece is a lightweight design perfect for on-the-go smoking, and it looks absolutely fetching as well.