Tsuge Ikebana: Partially Sandblasted Bent Dublin (Ohi) (H) (292) (2014) Tobacco Pipe

The Tsuge Ikebana workshop, ikebana meaning "living flowers" in Japanese, consists of three carvers who craft their own pipes under the Ikebana name. Yoshirou Ohi is one of those artisans and was previously an independent pipe maker, bringing years of experience to the esteemed brand.

This hearty bent Dublin is a fine example of his shaping and finishing talents. Boldly fashioned and highly organic, it features a towering bowl with a pronounced flare toward the broad, asymmetrical and scalloped rim. The smooth, contrast-stained portion of said rim protrudes toward the aft right flank. Below, an extra-thick left flank protrudes from the base in the opposite direction, creating an oppositional sense of balance, despite the asymmetry.

The shank continues the muscularity of the palm-filling bowl and expands toward its flared end with the broad stem base continuing those lines. A well-executed, dark sandblast defines the tightly stacked rings of grain below, with the aforementioned smooth rim and patch of smooth briar along the heel providing handsome contrast. This is a bold design that's easily managed in hand despite its asymmetrical, creative shaping from one of Japan's most skilled carvers.