Smooth Acorn with Horn (0225) Tobacco Pipe

A third-generation carver, Nanna Ivarsson continues the legacy established by her father and grandfather by producing some of the finest pipes in the world. Nanna spent her childhood in her grandfather's workshop, learning the intricacies of shaping, engineering, and finishing, and that early exposure to the craft is clearly reflected in her work. Nanna is widely considered one of the greatest living artisans, and her work represents the highest levels of craftsmanship within the medium. One doesn't need to look further than this Acorn shape to understand the complexity and sophistication of her work.

This piece is an eye-catching composition executed with the precision only achieved by master craftsmen. Up front, a tall, full-bodied bowl stands atop a firm, protruding heel and grows trim walls that flare to a broad, gently rounded rim. A wide transition follows the bowl and marks the start of a trim shank extended by a long, flaring accent of horn. Said horn takes up the majority of the composition's aft, its protracted length leading the eye from the transition to the slender mouthpiece. The horn's creamy hues naturally complement the finish: a warm, silky polish that highlights gorgeous flame grain. This grain accentuates the flare of the bowl, rising along the its flanks and terminating at a rim peppered with birdseye.