Smooth Tomato Tobacco Pipe

Skilled artisan Lan Zhenjun draws inspiration from the Danish masters, placing special emphasis on clean lines and flowing, balanced composition when carving. Showcasing a pleasing juxtaposition of aesthetics that still manage to complement each other, this Tomato from Zhenjun combines supple, organic shaping with crisp, rigid linework.

The bowl of this Tomato is exceptionally plump, even by shape-chart standards, and offers a reassuring presence in hand. Said bowl perches at the fore of a ridgeline-flanked shank that both bends fluidly and imbues the composition with a dose of rigidity thanks to the crisp linework that informs it. The shank is also quite wide, offering ample room to drape a digit, and it's joined by a demurely bent saddle stem with flat, angular shoulders.

Gorgeous grain abounds throughout the stummel, accentuated by an earthy, contrast-rich stain. Tight curlicues of birdseye swirl around the rim and traverse the length of the shank on the top and underside, while dense flame grain climbs the walls of the bowl. Said grain patterns are masterfully read and beautifully finished, securing this piece's status as a surefire standout in any pipe collection.