Lan Zhenjun: Sandblasted Asymmetric Bent Apple with Boxwood Tobacco Pipe

When Lan Zhenjun chooses to include "Asymmetric" in the title of one of his shapes, he means it. These pieces really push the boundaries of pipe design when it comes to asymmetry, while still maintaining a comfortable feel in hand as well as a continuous, beautiful silhouette in profile. In this bent Apple, for example, he's kept the silhouette to either flank very smooth and continuous, with an almost tapering aesthetic in the way the eye is drawn from its visually heavy bowl, through the sweeping transition, and up across the curling shank. Viewed from above, however, this piece completely changes in character, with the entire piece seemingly ebbing to the right — like a fish caught in motion with its tailfin propelling it forward at great speed as it moves from side to side. It's a remarkable feat of shaping, to be sure, even more so once you consider how natural and comfortable it remains in hand. Of course, on top of all that, Lan's made sure to keep the briar's natural beauty front and center, showcasing a dense, concentric ring grain pattern, brought out through an extra dark, near jet-black sandblast. Excellent piece from Lan here.

- Andrew Wike