Tsuge: Tevina Smooth (103) Tobacco Pipe

Tsuge's Tevina series draws direct inspiration from a series of sculptures called Teasobi, which was created by one of the esteemed artisans from Tsuge's Ikebana workshop, Asami Kikuchi. With Teasobi, Kikuchi captured the tactile delight of cradling a finished piece of wood in one's hand and the pleasure of witnessing it organically sway after setting it on a surface. The Tevina series recontextualizes Teasobi in the form of a briar pipe by embracing bold, naturalistic shaping. Impressively, each Tevina is a resolute Sitter, as the curvaceous contours cause the pipe to rock back and forth before settling at its stable center-of-gravity. The "103" is offered here, which showcases a crisp ridgeline that wraps around the stummel and peaks at the fore, while another ridgeline encircles the broad, ovoid shank face, creating a sharp contrast with the stummel's shapely curves. Additionally, this particular "103" is dressed in a chestnut smooth finish, highlighting fetching grain across its flowing form.