Ken Dederichs: Sandblasted Bent Apple Tobacco Pipe

Ken Dederichs' penchant for crafting organic, asymmetrical shapes informed by Danish and Japanese design cues is on full display with this bent Apple rendition. The supple, rather stoutly proportioned bowl appears ready to surge forth from the transition and offers a craggy crown of plateau at the rim along with a lifting heel congruent with features of Danish carving. Its high, softly rounded waistline and bulbous, naturalistic shaping also bring to mind the Acorn design, the bowl displaying a poised, seemingly independent aesthetic. The shank expands toward the stem in asymmetrical fashion, which is quite evident when viewed from above; in profile, the flaring appears far more gradual, a testament to the Germany-based, Japanese artisan's skillful, precise shaping. The shank face is also covered in plateau with one of Ken's stylish, hand-cut vulcanite stems displaying an expansion ring at the base that continues the rhythm established by the shank's shaping. This piece is dressed in a dark, low-profile sandblast, amplifying undulating arrays of growth rings on both the bowl and shank for a reserved, formal color palette.