Werner Mummert: Sandblasted Hawkbill Tobacco Pipe

Werner Mummert is known worldwide for whimsical, imaginative designs that toe the line between pipe and modern art. This sculptural, very artistic leaning even makes itself know in Mummert's more reserved pieces, such as this Hawkbill, a pipe that showcases an enthralling texture and an incredibly intentional sense of line which sets it apart, not just from many of Werner's other pieces, but from the standard Hawkbill shape in general.

There's something immediately arresting about the orientation of the stem, itself connected to a shank which only makes a slight, though still aquiline, curve from the bottom of the bowl. For me, I see a very clear implied line that runs from the stem base through the bowl, intersecting the middle almost perfectly, not only capturing my attention fully, but showcasing the precision with which Mummert can shape curves. At the transition we see a deep cheeking and a slight inflation of the shank, pushing the bowl out a touch further and adding a degree of separation, like the bowl itself is balancing on the small outcropping of shank underneath it, making the straight upright posture its been given all the more impressive.

The plumpness of the bowl here is incredibly important for the overall experience of this pipe, simply because its supple, rounded walls, while giving the hand a wonderful place to hold, allow you to fully appreciate the texture here. This pipe is sandblasted, this is obvious, but Mummert has given it a very low depth, making the growth rings that wrap the bowl nearly invisible when looked at any other way but head on, though they are still apparent to the fingers, a phenomena I will henceforth call "ghost rings" until I am stopped. Not only this, but the surface of the briar is striated with visible grain of various types all around, creating an absolute feast for the eyes that is easy to get lost in, all underneath a honeyed mahogany stain that keeps the composition looking quite bright.