Tsuge: Smooth Bent Egg with Bamboo (363) (9mm) Tobacco Pipe

This bent Egg from Tsuge is a good example of the Japanese marque's ability to utilize bamboo in their work, the pale grass seen here extending the shank. The rhythm of the dense material's natural divots is continued through into the briar on the left flank, and on the right we see it following through the band of black acrylic that marries it to a demurely curved saddle stem of the same material. The single knuckle is quite thick, matching the muscularity of the rest of this piece, and the bowl which erupts from the transition that follows it is Scoop-like in appearance, with a sweeping heel and a gradual taper to the rim, the fore wall following the curve of the heel for a comfortable feel in hand. A vibrant auburn stain dresses the briar here, revealing lovely grain throughout, its hues contrasted handsomely by the pale bamboo and dark acrylic.