Dirk Heinemann: Natural Sandblasted Architect with Wenge and Juma Tobacco Pipe

I'm ceaselessly impressed each time I see new pieces from Dirk Heinemann, as not only are his signature shapes truly singular, but each one somehow manages to incorporate new details into their construction, though that should come as no surprise, given Heinemann's Master's degree in design. His background in furniture design and antique restoration have honed his eyes, lending him a keen sense of both line and balance, and this is perhaps best represented in the array of signature shapes that he crafts. These shapes include the Tuban, Cuban, Grainbug, and this: the Architect.

Like the Grainbug, the Architect is a shape defined by its ridges, curves, and impressively precise shaping. While the Grainbug is a more curvaceous shape that's a tightly-knit curl of briar, the Architect is a more streamlined, aerodynamic, and, well, architectural style of composition. The bowl is a prominent feature here, not simply because of its relative heft, but the extended, rearward-slanting foot that it stands upon, supporting the entire pipe stably on a flat surface. The foot boasts an ovoid shape that's pointed at the flanks, with these points defined by twin ridgelines that rise through the bowl's walls and curl around through to frame the flanks of the shank and stem. From the foot, the bowl flares out toward a slanted, flat rim, and the slight curvature which possesses its walls offers a comfortable feel in hand. A flat transition sets this silhouette apart from the vast majority of other pipe shapes, and it leads directly into the shank: a trim extension of briar that tapers both vertically and horizontally through to the stem's button. A fitment of wenge wood marks the junction to the stem's pale white Juma, this combination of features adding a touch of contrast to the stummel's crisp, grain-defining tanblast. Coming in at less than four inches long, this pipe is a stunningly compact and beautifully structural example of Heinemann's firm grasp on industrial design.