Werner Mummert: Sandblasted Reverse Calabash Barrel Tobacco Pipe

German artisan Werner Mummert fashions pipes that push the boundaries of the craft, often rendering modernist, avant-garde shapes, such as this Barrel. Something of a signature shape for Mummert, this minimalist piece consists of a stummel that is neatly cylindrical, with no clear distinction between the bowl and shank. Werner, showcasing his expertise in the blasting cabinet, has dressed most of this piece in an inky sandblast that coaxes out rippling waves of growth rings across the stummel, while the end of the design, though wearing a sandblasted finish, is stained a warm, ruby color for a dose of vibrancy. Underneath its handsome surface, the stummel houses reverse Calabash engineering that ensures a cooler, drier smoking experience thanks to the internal chamber that collects excess moisture. An outcropping of briar lends the bowl a subtle sense of definition, while a saddle stem of jet-black vulcanite tops off the design. For those looking for a truly original, eye-catching pipe, this piece has plenty to offer, from its beautiful grain to its stellar engineering.