Sam Adebayo: Sandblasted Horn with Bakelite Tobacco Pipe

While the more vibrant palettes he often uses for his Bakelite mouthpieces certainly have their place, I quite like what Sam Adebayo's been doing recently with these understated, monochromatic color schemes. Both in the all-black bent Apple also featured in this batch and here in this earthy tan Horn rendition, he's kept the variation between shade and hue quite low from bowl to stem; in this case, that means a subtly warm tanblast paired to a glossier Bakelite mouthpiece of the same hue, slightly darker in shade. The reserved style pairs beautifully with the sheer minimalism of the shape, allowing its quick lines and curling gesture to speak for itself, while still highlighting some respectable grain. Speaking of the shape, this is definitely one of Sam's most compact, its light weight and modest proportions sure to serve well as a pocket pipe.

- Andrew Wike