Ken Dederichs: Partially Sandblasted Mushroom Tobacco Pipe

Originally from Japan and now based in Germany, artisan Ken Dederichs blends Japanese and Danish design influences, creating a distinctive portfolio marked by muscular proportions and organic, Freehand-like shaping. The Mushroom shape was pioneered by legendary artisan Jess Chonowitsch, and has continually been reinterpreted by countless carvers within modern pipe making. This particular rendition from Dederichs boasts the shape's characteristic domed rim, marked by a crisp ridgeline that perfectly demarcates this piece's partial sandblast. The bowl holds a strong forward cant, one that lends a touch of momentum to the otherwise static composition. The bowl is paired to a gently bent, round shank and is topped by a hand-cut, vulcanite stem, the latter of which nicely juxtaposes the bulbous bowl. As mentioned, the stummel wears a partial sandblast: a dark sandblast adorns the underside, while the rim is left and showcases stunning patches of birdseye.