Rusticated Oversized Apple with Horn Tobacco Pipe

With a background in graphic design and a proclivity for woodworking from a young age, Brazilian artisan Luis Lavos has a keen eye for design and a real penchant for reading a block of briar. Lavos' portfolio is filled with many beautiful pieces — many of which reveal his affinity for the Danish carving style, in particular. With its soft, supple curves, this oversized Apple speaks to the artisan's Danish influences as well as his pipe-making prowess.

Despite its name, this oversized Apple is quite compact in length, measuring well under five and a half inches. What it lacks in length, however, it makes up for in volume, as both the bowl and the shank are replete with shapely curves that lend this piece a substantial feel. A distinctive rustication dresses the stummel, and its concentric, carved channels emphasize the pipe's plump form. For a pop of contrast, the end of the shank is adorned with a domed band of horn, its pale hue and fine striations boldly juxtaposed against the dark, ringed rustication. A swiftly tapered stem of vulcanite completes the piece, its broad bit offering plenty of purchase in the jaw.