Michail Kyriazanos: Sandblasted Billiard with Horn Tobacco Pipe

In this Billiard, Michail Kyriazanos presents us with yet another shape within his portfolio of shape chart standards. That said, though, it's decidedly different than his typical fare: The Greek carver has most often catered toward the English school when rendering such classic shapes, but in this piece, he's leaned heavily into the Danish tradition. The slight deviation is most apparent in the bowl's forward cant and the slight taper toward the rim and shank end, with the horn mount also falling into conventional Danish cues. The heel is a touch more lifted than in the English interpretation, matching beautifully with the angle of the gentle transition. In profile, the piece is sleek-lined and elegantly shaped, the lines interrupted only by the slight tier between the horn mount and saddle stem, further accenting the silhouette. Dressed in a dark, earthy contrast stain, the sandblast is the only aspect that hints at Michail's typical English leanings — the finish being especially craggy and adorned in gorgeous, deep-grooved ring grain.