Ping Zhan: Sandblasted Acorn Sitter Tobacco Pipe

Born in 1979 in Dailan, China, Ping Zhan originally made a career as a software engineer. However, he began pursue his lifelong dream of creating three-dimensional artworks. During this time, he became more cognizant of pipe smoking and how pipes represented functional sculptures, leading him to begin carving pipes in 2011. An autodidact, Zhan is primarily influenced by Japanese and Danish artisans, resulting in his unique style of imaginative Freehands that exude gesture and softness. Additionally, Zhan often incorporates accents such as horn and bamboo into his pieces, imbuing them with a gorgeous organic aesthetic.

This Acorn Sitter by Ping Zhan instantly reminds one of the Danish Fancy Freehand style. Possessed of a V-shaped stummel, the rim of the plump bowl and the face of the upright shank both feature plateau, a classic Danish design cue that maximizes the surface available to showcase plateau. Additionally, the stummel also possesses asymmetric features, with the plump, flared bowl bending gently to the right, and the right flank of the shank featuring a crisp ridgeline that contrasts with the contoured left flank. Furthermore, the shank features a brass inlay Zhan spot-carved, giving it a craggy aesthetic that matches the surrounding plateau — a superb showing of his attention to detail. A sleek vulcanite stem rises out of the brass mount, its high-kicking posture making this pipe an ideal jaw-hanger. Moreover, the stummel is dressed in a jet-black sandblast, highlighting the craggy, detailed texture of undulating growth rings, while the flattened underside, nomenclature panel, and inner rim wear an ochre smooth finish for palpable contrast.