Smooth Blowfish Tobacco Pipe

Dirk Heinemann started out as a pipe smoker with a background in product design and a carpenter's apprenticeship before he started turning his own pipes. The influence of other pipe makers including Werner Mummert and Tom Eltang can be seen in his handiwork, which is given considerable attention to engineering in addition to outward appearance.

Make no mistake, though, this Blowfish from Dirk is outwardly incredible, too. Flowing ridgelines give the piece a raised face at the fore of the stout bowl and a strong heel on the right flank, but Dirk has done everything he can to keep the fingers guessing here. Flame grain wraps around the middle of the stummel's brief height, with birdseye at the top and bottom and a very rich, bright red stain covering it all. The finish is very smooth, allowing the stummel to play intricately with the light on its many surfaces. The shank flares well outward to meet the stem, which is formed of cream acrylic and relatively brief. The piece is under four and a half inches in length, placing it in Nosewarmer territory but still providing plenty of visual intrigue. Included is a signed, wax-stamped pencil drawing of its design, which, though somewhat intricate in its imagination, is simply beautiful in its execution.