Mark Tinsky: Natural Bent Pot with Palm and Ebony Christmas 2021 (One Star) Tobacco Pipe

American carver Mark Tinsky has been producing commemorative Christmas pipes since 1983, making this yearly release nothing short of a tradition. For 2021, Tinsky has chosen this bent Pot to comprise his Christmas release, pairing a squat, stout bowl with a willowy stretch of shank and stem, the latter of which is demurely downturned. This rather robust shape also features a swiftly lifted heel, pushing the bowl up higher and into further visual prominence. The transition is quite sharp, nearly a right angle, and the shank that ebbs forth from it is straight, with the bend coming into play only at the stem. This particular example features a palmwood accent encircling the rim, with an ebony ring resting right where the chamber is set, adding a pop of color and contrast to the more honeyed stain that dresses the rest of the stummel.