Yeti: Sandblasted Acorn with Mammoth and Bakelite (674) Tobacco Pipe

Micah Cryder is the artisan who makes Yeti pipes, and he holds a special place in my heart for two reasons: We are both from Montana, and he renders killer sandblasts. Don't get me wrong, he also makes superb smooth pipes, but I'm particularly taken by his sandblasts, like the one adorning this incredible Acorn. An elongated design with a substantial bowl, it offers robust overall dimensions while maintaining a lithe aesthetic, with a bowl that flares from a rounded, gently protruding heel to the curved upper regions that define the shape. A pinched transition contributes to the trim nuance of his design, and from it the shank flares slowly as it reaches way back to a crowning accent of mammoth.

The rim is alive with natural plateau, the blast rounding perfectly into the craggy feature to unify the piece as variations of a single texture. To call it a neat trick would be a flat disservice, as the rippling growth rings that climb the bowl erupt through the plateau in a triumph of organicism. The stunning grain is made even more so by one of Cryder's vivid contrast stains, and the whole arrangement is contrasted by the sunny yellow hues of a hand-cut Bakelite stem for an unforgettable composition.