Werner Mummert: Rusticated & Sandblasted Bent Apple with Black Walnut Tobacco Pipe

Werner Mummert's Apple designs are relatively conservative compared to the German artisan's more experimental Freehand creations, yet often involve the use of alternative materials such as morta and oak. And while we often talk about a shape being "organically inclined" in terms of its shaping or finish, this bent Apple practically personifies that phrase. It was also Mummert's Best in Show submission for 2019's West Coast Pipe Show and exemplifies the German carver's innovative approach. The black walnut accent immediately grabbed my attention and seemingly sets the precedent for the rest of the piece, with the affixed stem continuing through the walnut to join the stummel. When the walnut is removed, its face displays a fascinating pattern similar to a Rorschach test, while the carver's stamp is placed along the shank face instead of the stummel.

The stummel notably features a dual-finish, Werner utilizing rustication and sandblasting to unveil intriguing grain patterns and a rugged texture that pairs perfectly with the black walnut. The smoky, woodsy stain further accentuates the composition's inherent organicism, blending in seamlessly with the accent's natural color. Shape-wise, this piece is quite compact, measuring just under four inches in overall length while the bowl is rather plump, its chubbiness exaggerated due to the brief, almost non-existent transition. A point along the bowl's underside breaks off into two separate ridgelines that continue until the meet the shank end, and still manage to stand out underneath the dark contrast stain and craggy finish. All of these elements form a pipe that looks as if it was plucked directly from a tree branch and fashioned into a functional smoking instrument by one of the most daring and creative pipemakers of the modern era.