Tom Eltang: Sandblasted Horn with Horn Tobacco Pipe

Danish artisan Tom Eltang is rightly regarded as among the foremost pipe carvers working today. Eltang has honed his craft for decades, sharing his knowledge with scores of promising pipe carvers over the years. While not exactly a rarity, the Horn is among Eltang's less common designs and often feature some his most creative shaping. This rendition is one such piece, bearing the smoothly curved silhouette characteristic of the shape with a particular organic flourish toward the bowl. The rim is slightly domed and surges out from the shank, with the lower half urging forward with a subtle asymmetry. Featuring a somewhat lenticular cross section, the stummel's sides are flattened from bowl to bit, creating sleek ridges along the length of the briar. A slim band of horn accents the shank's junction with the downturned vulcanite stem for an engaging touch of contrast, matched by the smooth beveled rim, stained auburn to reveal traces of birdseye. Dressed in a crisp black sandblast, the rest of the stummel boasts fine texture, creating an eminently sleek and subtle aesthetic that makes quite the impression.