Tom Eltang: Smooth Bent Egg Churchwarden with Bamboo Tobacco Pipe

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6... That's how many knuckles of bamboo Tom has used as a shank extension on this lithe Churchwarden offering. Those six creamy knuckles, then, merge seamlessly with the slender, curling shank, flaring elegantly into the transition to lend the bowl a perched, bulbous orientation — as if it's inflating from out of the long shank and stem combination out back. With over two inches of bowl height, this piece houses a generous chamber, which is quite appropriate for a design that encourages long, relaxing smoking sessions in your favorite armchair. The elegant S-curve and bowl's forward cant make the in hand feel delightful, while the bright, natural palette of the bamboo offers up a striking presentation next to one of Tom's deep, ruby-tinged contrast stains dressing the stummel to reveal a handsome dose of straight grain. This piece is one of only two Churchwardens we've received from the Danish carver, both of which are featured in this new batch of Eltangs, boasting Tom's excellent handiwork in a comfortably long, sinuous form.