Smooth Dublin with Bamboo (Kikuchi) (013) (2026) Tobacco Pipe

Tsuge's Ikebana line stands as the pinnacle of the company's artisan tradition — its name drawn from the Japanese art of floral arrangement, where balance, form, and organic beauty converge. At one time, Asami Kikuchi, Yoshirou Ohi, and Kazuhiro Fukuda collaborated in the workshop. However, Asami Kikuchi is now the sole remaining carver, using the expertise imparted from past craftsmen to carry on the Ikebana tradition. Her path to Tsuge was marked by years of artistic training, culminating in an apprenticeship under Kazuhiro Fukuda, himself a former student of the legendary Sixten Ivarsson. The workshop's creations seamlessly blend Japanese artistry with the flowing lines and organic forms often associated with Danish artisan design.

Calling back to the "Living Flowers" inspiration, this Dublin is a highly organic composition that showcases Kikuchi's ability to coax the best possible grain from a piece of briar. Immediately catching the eye is the elongated shank, its four bamboo knuckles creating a harmonious rhythm along the profile. The stem is equally distinctive, its tapered vulcanite construction beginning in a bulbous base before narrowing toward the bit, further emphasizing the design's organic character. Up front, the squat, flaring bowl provides a broad canvas for the briar's impressive grain: clean, straight grain rises across the bowl's flanks, while the rim is crowned in uniform plateau. The inner portion of the rim, however, is left smooth to reveal a lovely display of birdseye, resulting in a composition that celebrates the beauty of the briar from every angle.