marTelo: Sandblasted Long Shanked Apple Tobacco Pipe

Gustavo Cunha is a remarkably talented and versatile pipe maker, possessing the ability to deliver spot-on renditions of shape-chart standards and organically inspired designs. However, I find myself particularly drawn to the Brazilian artisan's pencil-shanked designs and long-shanked offerings, like this Apple. The elongated shank is oval in cross section, its increased length adding sleekness to the profile and accentuating the plump bowl's visual presence. The ridgelines along the side of the shank are subtle but are certainly there, simultaneously contrasting and emphasizing the bowl's curvaceousness.

The sandblasted finish is the most irresistible element of this piece for me, providing an abundance of craggy texture to keep wandering fingers engaged. Deeply grooved, undulating ripples of ring grain stack upon one another all the way from heel to rim, dressed in an earthy toned contrast stain that brings out the nuances of the briar's grain. The stummel's coloration is expertly complemented by the rustic hues of the abbreviated cumberland stem, while trim rings of smooth briar grace the innermost portion of the chamfered rim and the shank end. An excellent representation of Gustavo's distinct style and ability to fashion a pipe that's nearly impossible to set down for extended periods of time.