Pete Prevost: Smooth Cutty with Bamboo Tobacco Pipe

Modern pipe making has a lot to do with experimenting with new forms, pushing the boundaries, so to speak, of what we thought possible from a block of briar. This often involves wild asymmetry and evocative forms, or even shapes pulled from pop-culture like Magritte's famous not-a-pipe or the stubby Apple Kevin Costner sported in his role as Devil Anse Hatfield in Hatfields and McCoys. But just as much as these avant-garde forms and shapes play their role, so does tradition — so does the revival of the very first pipe designs.

As an artisan, Pete Prevost captures both of these camps with grace and poise. We've seen both gravity-defying sitters and textbook classics from the talented American carver so far, each executed with such finesse and perfection. But this piece in particular is perhaps his most classic: the Cutty. Evocative of the old clay pipes of yesteryear, Pete has delivered a functional instrument true to the classic form in its delicate lines and overall trimness, yet still very much modern in its materials and overall stance.

The bowl itself sits tall and high-perched along a pencil-thin transition, canted ever-so-slightly with a subtle foot along the underside, upon which this lengthy piece is actually able to balance. For the shank, he chose a trim three-knuckle bamboo extension — which, paired with the elongated saddle stem, emulates the slender silhouette of the timeless clay. Overall, this is a great example of Pete's artistic balance, both in form and overarching style, fusing tradition with innovation — and always. beautiful execution.

- Andrew Wike