Wandi Riyadi: Smooth Acorn Tobacco Pipe

Native to Indonesia, Wandi Riyadi initially carved out a career as an IT engineer before picking up pipe smoking in 2011. Entranced by the craftsmanship of handmade pipes, Riyadi soon carved out a new career, one as a full-time pipe maker. One of Indonesia's only artisan pipe-makers, Riyadi draws on the Scandinavian and Japanese greats for inspiration, primarily the Ivarssons, Bo Nordh, and Hiroyuki Tokutomi. Many of Riyadi's pieces showcase dramatic designs marked by arcing flutes and pronounced ridgelines, although he does possess an affinity for crafting traditional shapes as well. Furthermore, Riyadi dresses most of his pipes in smooth finishes that highlight spectacular grain, but also utilizes rustications to create pieces with craggy and intriguing textures.

Measuring in at just over 5 inches long, this Acorn is one of the most compact pieces we've seen from Wandi Riyadi. However, the bowl here is quite substantial, its walls bulging at the high-set waistline, flaring from the sweeping heel before tapering to the rim. Said rim is asymmetric and crowned with organic plateau, which accentuates the composition's naturalistic elements and enhances its rustic charm. Out back, the shank bends upwards from the cheeked transition, flaring as it does so, which results in a broad shank face that also showcases an outcropping of plateau, giving the stummel a cohesive feel. Furthermore, the shank face also features a brass inlay, which has been carefully carved to mirror the rugged texture of the plateau, and enhances the durability of the push-style tenon-and-mortise arrangement. Moreover, the stummel is dressed in a chestnut smooth finish, highlighting tendrils of flame grain that meander up the bowl's walls.