Dirk Heinemann: ***Smooth Lovat Tobacco Pipe

While German artisan Dirk Heinemann may be mostly known for his boundary pushing, avant-garde approach to pipe making, he fashions traditional, shape-chart classics with the same precision and tenacity, as evidenced by this Lovat. A gracile and petite design, this piece possesses all of the characteristics associated with the shape, including a pert, upright Billiard bowl, a protracted round shank, and an abbreviated saddle stem. The bowl boasts a subtle taper from its plump, slightly lifted heel to its taut, elegantly chamfered rim. The low-set transition and sleek shank-and-stem arrangement keep the pipe visually lean and constantly drive the eye to the fore of the composition, where the bowl towers. A warm, ruby-hued smooth finish dresses the stummel and highlights constellations of birdseye on either flank of the bowl. Lightweight and charming, this piece is an exceptional bit of craftsmanship, and it will surely become a welcome addition to any collector's rotation.