Tsuge Ikebana: Sandblasted Bent Egg with Bamboo (Kikuchi) (DE) (028) (2018) Tobacco Pipe

We haven't seen a lot of bent Eggs from Asami Kikuchi, despite how well her shaping style seems to meld with the shape itself. Soft and supple, with a crisp transition and just a sliver of shank, it's a shape that suits her history working with small blocks of wood to make petite objects. Dressed in a dark sandblast, it's also brought out some fine stacks of growth rings, and presents a stark contrast to three knuckles of pale bamboo shank extension, itself giving the piece a light and delicate feel. Sleek and elegant, it's a piece replete with both style and precision.