Ken Dederichs: Partially Sandblasted Mushroom Tobacco Pipe

Ken Dederichs has fashioned a number of Mushroom renditions over the years, and most exude a similar style: a slightly curled, flaring shank; balanced and recurved stem; sweeping heel; and, of course, the shape's iconic, domed rim. This particular version, however, presents a more stolid style. The shank still curls and flares outward but meets the bowl at a more defined transition, visually separating the shank and bowl compared to the more gradual transition of some of Dederichs' other works. Likewise, the heel is visually distinct here — rather than gently informed by the shank's undercurve. In this piece, the heel is flattened and lent added prominence as the bowl tapers into the visually dominated, domed rim.

The flattened heel does assist in allowing the pipe to sit upright, albeit rocking on the transition as well, but the aesthetic of the heel and transition lend this piece a Cherrywood-like inclination, while still maintaining the defining characteristic of the Mushroom: the rim. The Germany-based carver, then, has accentuated that aspect with this pipe's dual finish. The majority of the shank and bowl wear a low-profile, dark-stained sandblast, drawing focus to the contrasting rim, heel, and shank face, which are all adorned in a richly smooth, walnut stain.