Ping Zhan: Sandblasted Acorn with 'Bamboo' Carved Horn Tobacco Pipe

In size and overall shape, this Acorn from Ping Zhan greatly resembles another piece we received previously from the Chinese artisan, yet it differs greatly in regards to accent. Here, Zhan showcases his signature bamboo-carved horn. The creamy material is shaped to resemble a single knuckle of bamboo, complete with nodes and crisp grooves down the left flank — a creative contradiction, of sorts, it plays with perception, like the word "blue" written with a red pen. The motif is one that Ping returns to often, having become a signature of his personal style.

Here, it adorns a compact Acorn shape, reminiscent of Sixten Ivarsson's Peewit. The bowl is marked by supple curves, the rounded heel rising into a plump, high-waisted bowl with a subtly concave rim. The eye is particularly drawn to the tucked transition, accentuating the bowl's bulbous silhouette and emphasizing the negative space above the shank. Matching the shape, the finish is of classic Danish style — a low-profile, dark-stained sandblast, contrasted by a trim ring of smooth, contrast stained briar at the rim. Overall, this piece is a perfect example of Ping's work, combining classic Danish shaping and finishing cues with creative accent work and organicism that's reminiscent of the work of Japanese artisans.