Scottie Piersel: Relief Contrast Pencil Shank Brandy Tobacco Pipe

As a gift for her pipe-smoking husband, Scottie Piersel ordered a Mark Tinsky pipe kit to hand make a pipe for his collection. When she finished, Piersel was hooked. Today, Piersel has bloomed into a supremely talented pipe maker who primarily crafts traditional shapes. Additionally, Piersel values crisp line work, balanced proportions, and flawless drilling, which she incorporates into all of her pipes. Also, many Piersel pipes are instantly recognizable because of her trademark pencil shanks.

This Brandy by Scottie Piersel features a classically inclined bowl, the supple walls tapering as they ascend from the voluptuous waistline to the broad, chamfered rim. Out back, one of Piersel's signature pencil shanks emerges from the transition, which significantly elongates the profile but keeps compositional focus on the bowl. Additionally, the shank and bowl are here dressed in Piersel's signature Relief Contrast finish. First, Piersel stains and sandblasts the briar to reveal the organic, undulating growth rings. Then, she sands down the craggy growth rings and stains them a lighter color, manifesting a gorgeous visual dichotomy and an intriguing texture that toes the line between silky and rugged. Furthermore, a sleek vulcanite stem that showcases a vivid, teal brindle contributes an additional flourish to the already intriguing composition.