Clark Layton: Smooth Fish Tobacco Pipe

The Fish shape, primarily attributed to Jess Chonowitsch, presents an organically rounded bowl and a teardrop cross section to its shank. Clark Layton has approached the shape in his own style several times, each individualistic and each remarkable in construction and execution. This piece offers a prominent rim crowned with smoothed and softened plateau that's been carefully sanded for elegant, undulating texture. The bowl is perched at the end of a stylized shank, its easy transition providing an appearance for the bowl similar to the Acorn shape. The waistline rides high on the bowl for an especially organic disposition, and the shank expands with precision to its offset end, which is deftly rounded for introduction of the push-style mouthpiece. The expansion of the shank is more dramatic from an aerial perspective than it is in profile, and a crisp ridgeline runs along its lower right to traverse the far side of the bowl vertically, adding to the abundant tactile attributes of this stunning artisan piece.