Tsuge Ikebana: Sandblasted Calabash (Ohi) (I) (254) (17) Tobacco Pipe

Ikebana translates to "living flowers," and is a reference to the highest form of the Japanese art of flower arrangement. The prestigiously named Tsuge Ikebana is Tsuge's premier workshop, and three artisans work there: Asami Kikuchi, Yoshirou Ohi, and Kazuhiro Fukuda. They make every pipe by hand, showcasing distinctively Japanese interpretations of Danish shapes, and each maker possesses their own unique style.

This Calabash is made by Tsuge Ikebana's Yoshirou Ohi. This pipe does not feature Calabash engineering, rather, it is an aesthetic take on the gestural shape. The bowl expands from a rounded heel to an inflated, asymmetrical rim, presenting a mushroom-like appearance. Moreover, the transition occurs midway up the bowl, emerging with a distinct upward arc. The shank flares slightly as it rises, terminating at a circular shank face that is fitted with a military mount. Furthermore the shank face is dressed in an auburn stain that highlights a few whorls of birdseye — this and the nomenclature panel on the shank are the only locations that showcase grain in a smooth finish. The stummel wears a contrasting mahogany sandblast, highlighting undulating growth rings throughout. On the bowl, exposed flame grain rise upward as the growth rings ripple around them, terminating at the rim's crisp ridgeline. The rim is speckled with a wealth of rugged birdseye, and the available surface area for the grain pattern has been maximized by the asymmetrical shaping. Finally, the chamber is encircled by an inner rim dressed in an auburn smooth finish, a subtle feature that shines within the dramatic freehand shaping of this Calabash.