Bruno Nuttens: Handmade Smooth Twiggy (AA) Tobacco Pipe

While he was born in Belgium, Bruno Nuttens has resided in France for nearly 20 years. He started his pipe-making career by restoring estate pipes while crafting some of his own in his spare time, and with the assistance and advice of pipe maker Pierre Morel, Nuttens was later able to accrue the skills and equipment to propel his career. Nuttens' portfolio features both traditionally-inclined pieces and more expressive designs, with the latter showcased in this rendition of the French artisan's signature Twiggy design. As part of Nuttens' Handmade series, this piece was carved and finished completely by hand and displays his unique creative inclinations. The Twiggy shape is one characterized by its subtle momentum, aided by the bowl's slight forward urge and the shank and stem's gradual taper. Additionally, the shape features a flaring, Dublin-like bowl at the fore, with this particular interpretation exuding a striking disposition as its flaring walls rise from the pointed heel toward the craggy rim of plateau. Out back, the shank and stem keep this pipe sleek and streamlined in profile, the arrangement's lean build offering a lightweight, comfortable presence. Dressing the stummel is a vibrant, contrast-rich smooth finish that reveals streaks of flame grain across both flanks.