Cornelius Manz: Smooth Horn with Horn Tobacco Pipe

Cornelius Mänz's style reflects a deep appreciation for Danish pipe making, the German carver imbuing each design with his own recognizable style. This graceful, flowing Horn is an excellent example, demonstrating Cornelius' stellar line work and impeccable craftsmanship. It's a deeply sweeping interpretation of the Danish-style Horn, displaying a seamlessly smooth profile and continuing Cornelius' penchant for dynamic designs. Guided by the underside's consistent curvature, the eyes gravitate towards the bowl, its domed rim bearing a striking resemblance to his signature Mushroom shape. Mänz has executed this rendition with incredible precision, the stem's ever-so-slight downturn counterbalancing the stummel's forward urging disposition while the non-existent transition accentuates the form's sinuous silhouette.

I'm particularly struck by how Cornelius read the grain perfectly on this block and the way in which it informed the overall execution of this piece. A firm ridgeline emerges from the right side of the shank face, traveling along the underside and eventually merging with the inflated rim, coming to a well-defined point. That ridgeline was a conscious design element, serving to separate the flame grain along the right flank from the whorls of birdseye that dominate the entire underside. Furthering the Danish aesthetic, the horn mount subtly flares out, which is echoed by the disc-shaped base of the mouthpiece. The horn is old stock that Cornelius acquired from France, having been aged for decades and put to magnificent use on this stunning composition.