Yeti: Smooth Nautifish (596) Tobacco Pipe

Hybrid designs aren't a new phenomenon in pipe making. Plenty of makers have combined certain elements of two (or more) shapes: a Billiard with the diamond shank of a Bulldog, a Poker with a flaring Dublin bowl, a Rhodesian bowl with the characteristic arch of a Hawkbill, the list can go on. That said, while those examples are attractive and unique in their own right, they are still, essentially, the sum of their individual parts. The various shaping elements remain distinct. That's not the case with Micah "Yeti" Cryder's Nautifish design, a hybrid of Nautilus and Blowfish.

Yeti's Nautifish is more than the sum of its parts, becoming a unique and new composition all its own. Yes, the bowl is clearly that of a Blowfish and the shank's rounded, upward curl resembles the Nautilus; however, those two elements relate to each other differently after having been paired together. For example, the canted nature of the shank in this piece (best observed from above) echoes the slightly asymmetrical, off-set shaping of the bowl — the left flank being slightly larger than the right. Furthermore, the rounded, curling nature of the shank adds fluidity and softness to the overall composition, drawing focus to the bowl's neatly paneled, ridgelined "fins" and fitting into the Blowfish's generally dynamic and organic theme. This piece becomes an individual design in and of itself, and it's a intricate shape that's not small feat to accomplish as a craftsman. Dressed in a extra-dramatic, golden contrast stain, this example displays immaculate grain from all angles, with a touch of plateau accenting the left side, and — doth my eyes deceive me — the stem here is ebonite, a rare departure from the Bakelite mouthpieces Micah has been churning out recently. While his Bakelite work is stellar, I think Cryder made the right choice with traditional vulcanite here: It matches the darker tones of the stain and doesn't distract from the shaping or grain, which are what deserve all the attention.