Gabriele: Smooth Blowfish (Whale) Tobacco Pipe

The Blowfish lends itself well to artistic interpretation, which makes it a favorite among artisan pipe makers who wish to stretch their creative muscles. Unlike the Billiard, the Blowfish lacks an archetypal standard and is predominantly defined by a playful asymmetry that can be rendered in a number of different ways. Here, Italian craftsman Gabrielle dal Fiume has fashioned the Blowfish with a floral build and character, all while retaining the core spirit of the Freehand shape.

Though quite bold and muscular, this piece boasts a rather fluid silhouette, displaying a bowl poised on a lifted heel and a shank-and-stem arrangement that curls gracefully out back. Two crisp ridgelines unevenly bifurcate the bowl and form a grooved channel that descends from the rim, wraps around the heel, and bleeds into the transition. The ridgelines emphasize the pronounced, rounded flanks of the bowl, which bulge outward to meet the hand. The triangular shank mirrors the bowl's asymmetrical appearance, as it curves to one side of the composition before giving way to an arcing saddle stem. A smoky smooth finish dresses the stummel and highlights an impressive display of birdseye and flame grain around the wavy bowl, adding further visual appeal to this already alluring design.