Jared Coles: Sandblasted Lens Tobacco Pipe

A unique design from Jared Coles, this Lens piece incorporates an Opera-esque, pinched nature at the bowl. Instead of pinching the flanks, though, as would be the case in a classic Opera, Coles has here squashed the bowl fore and aft for a lenticular profile when viewed from above — the chamber acting as a dark, cavernous pupil of sorts. The rim, then, matches the bowl's eye-like aerial profile, pointed at the edges as well as concave and deeply chamfered. Thanks to the bowl's rounded form and firm flanks, the in-hand feel is incredibly natural and easily gripped, the subtle, tight-knit sandblast offering just the right amount of texture to contrast the smooth polished rim up top. It's fitted on the end of a sleek, slightly downturned stem and an angled transition to give the piece a gestural appearance in profile. It's stunning work both in terms of creativity and craftsmanship from the American carver, and it remains an eminently practical and portable pipe thanks to its lightweight and compact length.