Micah Redmond: Sandblasted Natural Lovat Tobacco Pipe

With Lovats, proportion is everything. This piece perhaps reflects the fatter shanks of Italian and some Danish heritage, rather than English. I like both, but lean a little toward the beefier shank, as seen here. How the pipemaker decides on the length of the saddle stem is still a mystery to me, though I know when it's right. And what a perfect size it is. Not too small, and not too large, it's in the Goldilocks zone of Lovats. With an almost-natural coloration, the bowl reflects cross-cut grain patterns, with birdseye most prominent but punctuated by horizontal growth rings in abbreviated areas. The rim is sandblasted and with a subtle curvature. The Lovat is my favorite shape, and this piece is calling to me, so don't hesitate for too long.