Scottie Piersel: Relief Contrast Pencil Shank Dublin Tobacco Pipe

Scottie Piersel places an emphasis on functionality, durability, and engineering when crafting a pipe, but that's not to say she foregoes striking aesthetics. Instead, her aesthetic choices are meant to bolster her designs. Piersel has studied under some of North America's best carvers and developed a distinctive style that often marries robust, muscular bowls to elongated, pencil-thin shanks. This Dublin exemplifies her approach to pipe making and showcases her ability to render visually striking work.

At first glance, one could be forgiven for thinking that this pipe is haphazardly built, with the bowl so broad and brawny in comparison to the slender shank and stem. However, Piersel has accounted for the weight disparity by lining the interior of the shank with stainless steel tubing, which makes the shank incredibly durable and allows it to support the hearty bowl. Typical for the form, the bowl flares from its heel to its rim, its aft walls expanding subtly as its lifts upward. The rim boasts a craggy ridge of dark plateau that adds a touch of organicism as well as a bit of asymmetry to the pipe in profile. Piersel's striking Relief Contrast finish dresses the stummel and coaxes out tight stacks of growth rings across the flanks of the bowl, while smooth sections add textural and color contrast. A colorful stem of brindled vulcanite tops off the design and provides a touch of vibrancy to the overall composition.