Smio Satou: Smooth Bent Dublin with Tsuishu Tobacco Pipe

We haven't seen a tsuisyu-accented pipe from Smiou Satou since 2009, and, as far as I know, we haven't ever seen one from anyone else, period. This doesn't come as a particular surprise, though, as tsuisyu, being essentially a solid piece of urushi lacquer, produced through a long and laborious process of applying and curing layer after layer, is not exactly either common, or cheap. Still, the wait is worth it, as it does work as a fine way to spice up a clean, relatively simple (by Japanese-school standards), and conservatively finished briar like this rakish bent Dublin. Even so, looking at the spectacular birdseye of this pieces rim, even the multitude of perfectly defined shades and hues displayed by the tsuisyu seems to fall away into the background.

- Eric N. Squires