Tom Eltang: Rusticated Devil Anse Tobacco Pipe

While the Devil Anse shape has become a popular design among artisan carvers and workshops alike, this specific, oval-shanked rendition stands heads above the rest as Tom Eltang's. He's played with the bowl shape over the years, varying its plumpness between that of an Apple and of an Egg (the one seen here falling closer to the latter), but the rusticated finish has remained the same and is a signature of Tom's. The craggy, grooved texture is a delight in hand while still maintaining the shape's form. Accented with smooth briar at the rim and shank-end, the bowl's bulbous nature is accentuated by the streamlined form of the oval shank, making for a boldly elegant piece with loads of charm in its compact and rounded yet sleek, forward-urging profile.