Nikolay Kozyrev: Sandblasted Bent Brandy with Horn Tobacco Pipe

It's impossible to discuss this bent Brandy from Nikolay Kozyrev without regard to the context of the Russian carver's body of work and, in particular, this other bent Brandy. The two pieces are nearly identical in every aspect apart from finish — their dimensions straying only by 100ths of an inch. Such exacting measurements and impressive consistency bespeak both Kozyrev's years of experience as well as his devotion to this particular bent Brandy rendition. It's a celebration of a similar Jess Chonowitsch shape, and Nikolay has continually returned to it over the years, slowly refining it and moving closer to the ideal, archetypal form.

Like its smooth-finished sibling, this sandblasted offering is a more than worthy homage to Chonowitsch's. It's marked most notably by a nosewarmer length that packs a considerably amount of muscularity and chamber depth into its pocket-friendly overall size. The profile is elegantly curled and rounded, with the expansion ring of the stem base offering the only sense of hardness. Topped with horn and dressed in a light-depth, chocolate-stained sandblast, it caters well to conventional Danish style, particularly with the auburn-hued, smooth-polished rim providing contrast against the stummel's darker color.