Yeti: Smooth Nautilus (311) Tobacco Pipe

All too often, the Nautilus shape is seen rendered as a generously-proportioned, trumpeting composition that one could just as easily imagine playing a traditional Dutch melody on as he could filling with (a decidedly generous amount of) tobacco. That makes this reduced interpretation of the seashell-like form from Micah Cryder of Yeti Pipes all the more unique, being so compact that it can be readily stowed in a jacket pocket, but still playing to the shape's inclination toward hand-friendliness. And, fitting to the relatively minimalist composition at play here, as well as the carver's splendid reputation, the grain is brilliantly oriented, accentuated by a warm, vibrant contrast stain. Beautiful work from Micah here.

- Daniel Bumgardner