Jared Coles: Sandblasted Asymmetric Tomato (1660) Tobacco Pipe

As previously stated, both pieces in this update of Jared Coles pipes share some neat characteristics. As they both draw pronounced influences from the work of other noted pipemakers, aartisans who have been known to do some very interesting things with asymmetry, it's no wonder that they both share an acute sense of, yes, asymmetry. This asymmetric Tomato, with its squat profile and egg-like cross-section of the bowl, makes fine use of more organic form; the combination of river stone-like bowl, elegant, flared shank, and plateau-kissed shank face is splendidly matched, and together with the very dark, very subtly ruby-tinged sandblast, it readily evokes the work of Hiroyuki Tokutomi. Jared lent the shank's end a brass-ringed mount, complemented wonderfully by the contrast-stained rim. Along with all that, it's a fairly well-balanced sitter, too.

- Daniel Bumgardner