marTelo: Sandblasted Jatobá Tobacco Pipe

The Jatobá is a signature shape for Gustavo Cunha of Martelo pipes. They are made to replicate the shape of the fruit pods of hymenaea courbaril, also known as the Brazilian Cherry tree, native to Central and South America and, as you can see, an unusual shape. Rising from the low transition like an ambitious Dublin, it tapers to an angled, naturally curved beadline before reversing the angle inward toward the tobacco chamber. In all black, the sandblast is deep and the growth rings gnarly with texture. The heel points forward, but is poised and balanced against the upper transition opposite it. The shank is oval and vertically compressed, with a soft ridgeline on each side. While there is little curve to the shank, it gives the impression of one because of the curve at the bowl of the ridgelines and the extended taper mouthpiece. The tobacco chamber is conical, like the bowl, and tall, though the pipe probably holds about the same amount of tobacco as your most average pieces. It's a remarkably lithe and sinuous composition, and certainly retains originality. While Gustavo has built a reputation on his interpretations of English classics, this signature shape highlights his own creativity and design aesthetic.