Tsuge Ikebana: Smooth Rhodesian (Kikuchi) (I) (015) (2024) Tobacco Pipe

The three artisans that work out of the small Ikebana workshop in Japan are incredibly talented individuals, each given the freedom to craft shapes that are utterly their own and in styles that reflect their own sensibilities. Of the three, Asami Kikuchi is the youngest, though she honed her artistic talent for many years before joining the team and, once there, was mentored for a full year by the head of the workshop Kazuhiro Fukuda, who was taught by Sixten Ivarsson and boasts over 40 years of experience. This Rhodesian from Kikuchi is a unique piece that intriguingly reinterprets the classic profile.

We've seen precious few takes on the Rhodesian from the Ikebana workshop, and this rendition of the profile stands out even among those, catching the eye with its robust, hearty build. The stummel itself is compact, nearly the same length as the stem, though their pairing keeps the reach of this pipe appreciable. Though both stem and stummel boast a similar length, the stummel is possessed of nearly all the visual weight within this composition. Comparatively, the stem is elegantly slender, comprising a demure curl of black vulcanite fitted with an expansion ring at the base that lifts softly as it reaches out from a broad, ovoid shank face. The shank arcs out of a wide transition to meet the stem, its compressed build flaring out to the end, and its widest point is marked by a firm ridgeline, while the face is domed and soft. Up front, a sweeping heel supports the presence of the bowl, a smooth line that continues the curves of the shank before meeting the bowl's low-set waistline. In traditional Rhodesian and Bulldog renditions, and even in the vast majority of modern reinterpretations, the bowl's waist is high, near to the rim, while here, its single ridgeline is set low, closer to the transition. This drastically alters the look of the pipe, lending it a look reminiscent of the Brandy or Volcano, all thanks to the bowl's lengthy taper from the waist to the inward-sloping rim. The bowl is impressively robust, with a wealth of substance in hand and an impressive breadth that's greater than its height, making for delightfully thick walls that surround a capacious chamber. Dressed in a rich, matte-finished stain of deep walnut hues, the stummel showcases a wealth of handsome grain, with flame through the shank and lower bowl, while the underside and most of the top bowl showcase birdseye in both swirls and streaks.