Jess Chonowitsch: Sandblasted Bent Brandy with Horn Tobacco Pipe

Jess Chonowitsch's signature bent Brandy rendition is a softly curved, compactly proportioned version, much like this piece. Displaying the same sense of curvature through the shank and stem, and a similarly tapered bowl, this bent Brandy hews closely to that aforementioned signature design. However, the bowl here is canted forward to a much stronger degree, effectively altering the personality of this piece compared to Jess' signature. When fitted with a more upright bowl, the momentum of the sinuous shank and stem is visually slowed down, offering a more soft-lined suppleness. Here, though, the bowl continues the shank and stem's dynamism, resulting in a visually faster composition, the bowl shooting out from the shank and propelled forward. Such an element of design adds sleekness to the plump curves of the stummel and complements the sandblasted finish and the rhythmic pattern of ring grain across the bowl. Fitting to conventional Danish style, Chonowitsch left the rim smooth for a simple contrast, and the horn accent is a touch often utilized by Danish carvers. From finishing and shaping, to internal engineering and stem work, this pipe from Jess is a lesson in the upper echelons of artisan pipe design.