Cornelius Manz: Smooth Bent Apple with Bamboo Carved Horn Tobacco Pipe

Cornelius Mänz pipes are prized for their deft engineering, superior craftsmanship, and immaculate smoking properties, each piece exhibiting the German artisan's perfectionist approach and exacting standards. From shaping and finishing, to accenting materials and stem work, each step is crucial for Cornelius and bespeaks his dedication for the craft. This particular bent Apple is no exception, demonstrating all of the aforementioned characteristics and presenting a design that's simultaneously familiar yet entirely unique from Mänz. We've seen the Apple shape a few times from Cornelius previously, ranging from organic renditions to graceful, Danish-inspired interpretations.

This particular piece, like the previous examples, features an undulating rim topped with plateau and calls to mind the last Apple we received from Cornelius, albeit not as asymmetrical in its orientation. It serves to emphasize the inherent organicism of the shape and hints at the German carver's appreciation for natural forms. The grain is simply spectacular on this piece, with tight streaks of vertical grain wrapping around the muscular, poised bowl. But what's perhaps most stunning on this piece is its horn shank extension, the first of its kind we've seen from Cornelius, but not the first time he's fashioned it. It's been carefully carved to emulate the appearance of bamboo, an incredibly demanding, time-consuming process that requires patience and skill. Thankfully, Cornelius Mänz has an abundance of both as this brilliant piece can attest to.