Werner Mummert: Smooth Morta Bulldog with Ivorite Tobacco Pipe

While the Bulldog shape is inherently characterized by crisp panels about the shank, Werner Mummert takes that aesthetic to the extreme in his signature rendition here, accentuating the facets with extra-hard lines and defined angles. It's such a striking aesthetic that the panels seem to draw more focus than the actual shape itself. The slanted planes along the underside of the shank continue into the heel, boasting sharp angles and coming to a crisp point at the fore. Above this the bowl rises almost upright before tapering suddenly at the rim just beyond the beadlines. While the shape and style is vintage Mummert, the use of morta isn't a common medium Werner uses for this specific design, and even more surprising is the choice to leave it smooth — the ebony hue and glossy finish combining handsomely with the ivorite accent for a dress pipe aesthetic.