Tsuge Ikebana: Sandblasted Strawberry Wood Bent Dublin (Kikuchi) (CD) (006) (2020) Tobacco Pipe

Tsuge Ikebana is comprised of three carvers and though each artisan crafts their own individual pieces, they do so underneath the umbrella of the Ikebana workshop's name while still allowing each pipe maker to realize their creative vision and deliver unique pieces that represent their distinctive style. Asami Kikuchi is one of the workshop's artisan's and notably attended Tama Art University, one of Japan's most illustrious art schools. Shortly after graduating, Asami was afforded the opportunity to craft wooden sculptures for a client in the Tsuge workshop and immediately became fascinated by the tactile and visual appeal that pipes offered. Kikuchi's talent was readily apparent and she was offered the chance to apprentice under the workshop's master artisan, Kazuhiro Fukuda. Over the past few years Asami has developed her own unique style, delivering sleek, streamlined designs as well as muscular and dynamic pieces like this bent Dublin.

What immediately grabbed my attention is that this pipe was fashioned from strawberry wood, a medium renowned for the unique grain and wild patterns that can be unveiled through sandblasting, something which Kikuchi has taken full advantage of for this composition. The sandblast is among the craggiest I've seen on a Ikebana pipe but suits this design beautifully as a mesmerizing array of ring grain climbs the bowl's flanks. Shape-wise, it's a robust, full-bodied piece with the bowl flaring in traditional Dublin fashion, culminating in a domed, concave rim. For a subtle accenting touch, Asami has left the innermost portion of the rim smooth and stained it a walnut hue that provides some tasteful contrast against the rest of the piece's dark color palette.