Tsuge Ikebana: Smooth Bent Egg (Kikuchi) (H) (006) (2025) Tobacco Pipe

Named after the Japanese art of flower arrangement, Ikebana, meaning "living flowers," Tsuge Ikebana represents the highest echelon of Tsuge's pipe-making tradition. This premier workshop is staffed by three of the brand's most skilled artisans—Asami Kikuchi, Yoshirou Ohi, and Kazuhiro Fukuda—each crafting pipes entirely by hand. Their work blends traditional Japanese sensibilities with Danish-inspired forms, resulting in pieces that are both refined and expressive. Every Tsuge Ikebana pipe is a functional work of art, echoing the precision, elegance, and quiet strength of the workshop's floral namesake. Asami Kikuchi, the carver behind this bent Egg, is the youngest member to have joined the esteemed Tsuge Ikebana workshop. Before her arrival, she spent years developing her artistic skill, and upon joining, she trained under the guidance of workshop head Kazuhiro Fukuda—a master with over four decades of experience and a direct student of the legendary Sixten Ivarsson.

This Bent Egg by Asami Kikuchi is a striking study in contrasts—an elegant fusion of her two signature styles: one defined by bold, full-bodied forms, the other by sleek, graceful proportions. Here, Kikuchi masterfully combines both into a cohesive and visually compelling composition. The bowl is robust and muscular, with tapering walls and a sweeping heel that rises into a taut rim, all while maintaining a forward-canted posture that lends the entire composition a dynamic sense of motion.

What makes this piece particularly captivating is the deliberate contrast between the bowl and the combination out back. A slender, curling shank extends from a wide, cheeked transition and tapers slightly before meeting a jet-black vulcanite stem that's subtly curved for comfort. The proportions create a dramatic tension—the visual weight is focused forward on the bowl, while the slim shank and stem provide both physical and aesthetic balance. Despite the bowl's heartiness, the pipe maintains an overall fluidity, thanks to its softly flowing lines and gentle curvature. The stummel is dressed in a dark, smoky stain that accentuates flame grain cascading down the bowl, while the underside features a dense sea of swirling birdseye.