Bruno Nuttens: Handmade Smooth Bent Egg with Spalted Guava (AA) Tobacco Pipe

French artisan Bruno Nuttens boasts a delightfully varied portfolio that ranges from understated, serially-produced works of Anglo-French classicism to more expressive, often Danish-inspired pieces made entirely by hand. This bent Egg is a unique interpretation of the shape, and it presents with an impressively lightweight build and a length that encroaches on Nosewarmer territory. Reminiscent of the Fish shape, this piece boasts a wide transition that gives way to a subtly lifted shank that flares out as it reaches toward a broad fitment of spalted guava wood. At the lower left flank of the shank, a firm ridgeline manifests, apparent at the accent and continuing through the burl, curling upward at the transition and lining the left flank of the bowl as well. This continuous, flowing ridge is evocative of the Fish immediately, though the Fish's iconic teardrop-shaped shank isn't quite apparent here, with this shank still displaying a more cylindrical look. Up front, the bowl stands on a rounded heel and offers plenty of plump curvature to appreciate, its low-set waist supporting thick walls that curve as they reach up to a curving rim that slants rearward. The stummel here is dressed in a rich, warm stain, revealing a wealth of handsome grain, with flame surrounding the bowl and shank, with birdseye through the underside.