Mike Sebastian Bay: Smooth Rhodesian Tobacco Pipe

Mike Sebastian Bay's Shaping style is influenced by the Danish greats, his portfolio typified by its consistently excellent output of classic shapes steeped in Danish sensibilities. This Rhodesian is a good example of that style, being one of the scant few examples of the shape we've seen from the artisan, and it presents with a unique arrangement of features that sets it apart from most other iterations of the Rhodesian in the pipe world. The transition is wide, and it gives way to a sleek shank whose thickness near the bowl swiftly tapers into a compressed, ovoid shape met by a similarly tapering stem of warm cumberland: the pair poised in a comfortable smoking posture. The sleekness of the shank and stem refocuses most of the visual weight to rest at the bowl, though the broadness of the oval shaping from the smoker's perspective introduces an understated muscularity to this pipe that keeps it intriguing no matter how long its form is appreciated. The transition isn't cheeked, but there's an added bit of contour present near the lower walls of the bowl that greatly emphasizes the softness and supple curves of the bowl itself. A sweeping heel supports the bowl's walls as they expand to a broad, mid-set waist that sits just above the transition, its presence marked by a firm ridgeline. In addition, this waist marks the walls' sleek taper to the plump, subtly domed rim, the entire structure possessed of ample roundness to make for an extremely comfortable feel in hand. Dressed in a warm, smooth finish, the stummel showcases a wealth of handsome grain beneath its rich stain, with flame wrapping the bowl and ample birdseye across the underside, its hues complemented well by the cumberland stem.