Sabina Santos: Sandblasted Apple with Durat Tobacco Pipe

One of the few artisan pipe-makers from Portugal, Sabina Santos got her start in pipe making through her husband's love of pipe smoking. As he began to research artisan pipe makers, Santos felt the urge to carve a pipe herself. Already possessed of some wood working skills, Santos learned through trial-and-error as she honed her pipe making abilities. However, she wanted to learn more. Her desire sparked several trips to Denmark where she learned under legendary artisans like Tom Eltang, Kai Nielsen, Tao, and Former. Her trips lead to a strong Danish influence in her pipe making aesthetic, with her crisp line work and supple shaping skills lending well to the organic Danish style. Furthermore, Santos prioritizes engineering in her pipes above all else to ensure every one provides a sublime smoking experience.

Recently, Santos has incorporated a number of unique and sustainable accenting materials into her pieces, giving her traditional, vintage pieces a modern flair. This Apple in particular is accented with Durat, a polyester-based composite that is made up of multi-colored flecks of recycled plastic granulate. Here, the accent band is affixed to the base of a trim saddle stem crafted from cool blue vulcanite, highlighting blue speckles in the Durat. The stem and accent create a vivid contrast with the stummel, which is dressed in a rugged, wiry sandblast, save for the cherry-stained rim. Moreover, the stummel is proportionally balanced between plump bowl and cylindrical stem, while a cheeked transition keeps the two elements distinct. This traditional shaping is quintessentially Santos, making this pipe an exquisite example of her classically inclined work.