Sandblasted Freehand (Swan) Tobacco Pipe

Lying somewhere between a dublin and a horn, we cheated and called it a freehand (largely because a portmanteau of dublin and horn doesn't really work: hornlin? dublorn? It mostly sounds like a denizen of that fine Irish city has had five pints of Guinness too many). Of course, pipe shape taxonomy is a field rife with dangers better left to those with advanced degrees in hair-splitting anyway (I'm only just now finishing up my Master's in hair-splitting, making me ineligible to participate).

But, taxonomy schmaxonomy I say! It's one fine shape as it transitions from a lovely sweeping rounded shank into more of a triangular bowl as it progresses forward. The striking ring grain on the sides of the bowl, echoing the line that defines the bottom/front panel, contributes to the sense of vitality and movement that is central to the composition.

-- Sykes Wilford