Tom Eltang: Smooth Snail with Horn (with Tamper and Stand) (Snail) Tobacco Pipe

In something of a departure from the more typical Nautilus-style renditions we've seen from other makers and marques, here Tom Eltang has presented us with a more literal interpretation of the Snail, one which he quite fittingly lent his prestigious "Snail" designation. Eccentric in nature, it is one of the more evocative renditions we've come across once you understand its orientation — it being reversed from the normal configuration you'd expect to see based upon Nautilus shapes. The bowl itself is meant to allude to the animal's shell with its eye stalks being the upward curling columns of the shank, its tail the sharp spur along the heel, and its head the mouthpiece. The natural plateau lining the rim offers a touch of asymmetry, which really fits in with that shell-like aesthetic, and the "pierced" style of horn ferrule driving through the piece just ties it all together beautifully, allowing the eye to scan the composition in the intended, natural direction.

The shape is certainly one of Tom's more complex, sculptural forms, but that doesn't mean he's sacrificed anything in way of grain to realize it. Perfectly oriented flame, straight grain, and birdseye fill all faces of the design, and while striking to boot, that seamless orientation actually works to reinforce the direction of the design's implied movement. In other words, it's a gorgeous example of those rare pieces in which the shape emphasizes the grain, and the grain, in turn, accentuates the shape. A stellar piece here.

This pipe comes with a mushroom-shaped tamper crafted from horn, as well as a matching briar pipe stand — making for a gorgeous 1-pipe set you can place at the center of your collection.

- Andrew Wike