Pete Prevost: Sandblasted Bent Egg with Boxwood Tobacco Pipe

Pete Prevost bought his first pipe at the age of 18, soon thereafter discovering the larger realm of handmade pipes and purchasing a pipe kit which he spent two days shaping into something of his own, finding in this experience a passion for the art of pipe carving. This passion soon evolved into a career, as Prevost learned from some of the top American artisans early on in his development as a pipe maker, eventually moving to Nashville and further honing his craft, later giving up his career as a touring musician to focus solely on carving. His shaping style is marked by pipes that display a tightly-knit muscularity, creating pieces that are both compact and robust.

Reminiscent of his past Tulip designs, this bent Egg is a wonderful example of Pete Prevost's firm grasp on Danish shaping and his keen ability to playfully alter these shapes within the context of the American revival school of pipe making. Here, the presence of the bowl has been exaggerated, its height reaching over two and a half inches tall as it cants sharply out of the wide transition. This enhancement of the bowl's stature is neoclassical in its look and gives the fingers plenty of real estate to occupy, and additionally lends the fore wall more room to curve through the waist and taper to the rim, infusing the profile with supple contours. Through the left side of the bowl and shank, a ridgeline lifts, rises through the heel, and follows the fore wall's travel before dissipating just below the rim. The shank's ovoid shaping here is then transformed into a pointed, teardrop shape, something that's well-represented in the Danish tradition of pipe making and which is achieved here seemingly with ease. A trim ring of boxwood accents the end of the shank and leads to the expansion ring-fitted stem, the demure downturn of its black vulcanite offering a comfortable smoking posture. The stem's inky tones match the deep, black stain of the stummel's sandblast, revealing plenty of texturally rich grain beneath, though a wealth of contrast is offered by the lighter hues of the boxwood accent.