Lan Zhenjun: Smooth Bent Asymmetric Egg Tobacco Pipe

Several really, really impressive talents have come to our attention from China in recent years, and given what we've learned, the quality of design and craftsmanship displayed by those pipemakers shouldn't be a surprise. Put simply, China's native pipe-collector market has been perfect for frustrating those who desired to carve out their own name, exploring pipemaking in their own way. It's been big on demand for direct copies of Western pipes, and on top of that the language barrier has roadblocked most attempts to develop more flexible skillsets by learning from experienced artisans outside of China. One result of that is that the original work we are now seeing come out of China is coming from some pretty dedicated, as well as talented individuals.

This Asymmetric Egg? It's my personal favorite out of the pipes in this first batch of Lan Zhenjun creations. That's saying a lot, considering how impressive these pipes are all around, but the easy lines and ample form, the compact length, and the way it just seems to glide into the hand have won me over.

- Eric N. Squires