Benni Jorgensen: Sandblasted Tomato Tobacco Pipe

Benni Jorgensen has always been skilled in rounded forms. Apples, Brandies, Tomatoes, even some of his more domed-style Acorns all feature some of the smoothest, softest curves around. But that suppleness is usually contrasted by strong, fast sweeping lines along the shank and stem, or even something more lithesome and serpentine. Extra muscular, compact shapes like this particular Tomato, then, are pretty hard to come by from Benni, but that doesn't mean he didn't simply nail the composition here.

Yes, this is a very stout piece. And yes, it is pretty compact from end to end. But it's also still very much Benni; you can see his signature style in the subtle lifting gesture of the heel and how seamlessly it flows into the liens of the underside of the shank. You can see it in the domed shank end, in the broad waistline of the bowl, even in the cheeking to either flank. And you certainly can see it in the rippling texture and grain its sandblast has brought out. Excellent work.

- Andrew Wike