Starkov: Smooth Acorn with Bamboo Tobacco Pipe

Boris Starkov shapes each pipe by hand, requiring a meticulous, time-consuming process and resulting in a very low yearly output of pipes. This, combined with the Russian carver's expert craftsmanship and stunning finishes, makes his work quite rare and of exceptional quality and value. Many pipe makers in Russia are part of the St. Petersburg conglomerate, fashioning pipes with a recognizably muscular aesthetic and chubby disposition that riffs off the Danish tradition. Boris, however, caters more to the classic Danish style, his work sometimes imbued with Danish Fancy/Freehand shaping cues.

Here, Starkov presents a piece that exemplifies his classic Danish leanings — the high-waisted bowl inflating into a forward cant, supported by a consistently curling heel and fore. The standout of this piece is how Boris has seamlessly incorporated three knuckles of bamboo into the overall composition: The spacing between the stem base and the knuckles increases with every step toward the transition, speeding up the form's visual momentum into the bowl's cant. Furthermore, the knuckle closest to the shank continues the curling line of the neatly tucked shank, the curve flicking upward through the knuckle and creating a well-balanced, coherent sense of negative space.

Dressed in a red-tinged contrast stain, the stummel offers a stunning display of grain, while the dark bamboo echoes the bowl's hue in its subtle, underlying, ruby tones. It's a beautifully artful rendition and well-executed, cohesive œuvre, made all the more desirable by one of Starkov's signature, angled buttons for a more comfortable posture when clenched.