Adam Davidson: Partially Sandblasted Bent Dublin Sitter with Silver Tobacco Pipe

Adam's skill with sterling silver really shows in pieces like this dynamic bent Dublin sitter. He only really started getting into silverwork about a year ago, but ever since his executions have just gotten better and better. Here, for example, Adam actually used sheet silver, forming and soldering it himself into a fairly broad and thick sterling band, yet one that's also tapered just so — allowing for a bolder style of accent without compromising the clean lines of the overall shape. It's reminiscent of one of Adam's favorite periods — nodding to those early 20th century pieces.

It works remarkably well here, as unlike many sitter shapes, this one's ripe with dynamic lines. The strong taper to the fore and aft, the subtle sweep of the transition, the neat lift to the shank, the rippling growth rings brought out by an extra-dark sandblast. they guide the eye around the composition and make for a desk pipe unlike, well, anything else.

- Andrew Wike