Scottie Piersel: Relief Contrast Pencil Shank Pot with Ivorite Tobacco Pipe

Scottie Piersel's pipes are impressive for a number of reasons, not the least of which are her remarkable pencil shanks. Svelte and ultra-sleek, they're actually more slender than most pencils and far more durable, thanks to stainless steel tubes inserted into them. The carver wouldn't see it any other way; durability and functionality are top priorities to the American artisan. The broad but not overly dramatized bowl of this classically inclined Pot is perched poetically at the end of that streamlined shank and features a subtly chamfered, smooth rim that softens the form. This piece is dressed in Scottie's rugged Relief Contrast finish, achieved by sanding the peaks of the sandblasted surface of the briar, resulting in a dense, dual-toned aesthetic. The rippling stacks of ring grain on this Pot are so pronounced and beautiful that they're startling, while the rim is saturated in handsome birdseye. Topping things off is a slender, hand-cut vulcanite stem, its dark color complementing the stummel and contrasting a trim, pale accent band of Ivorite.