Werner Mummert: Sandblasted Brandy Tobacco Pipe

Werner Mummert's pipe catalog boasts quite the stylistic range, from fairly reserved, traditionally inclined pieces to those that are wildly creative. This dynamic Brandy is a proud representative of the latter, showcasing the German artisan's considerable shaping and finishing skills.

The supple, rounded bowl displays a slight forward cant and gradual taper toward the rim, while below, a narrow panel begins mid-heel, the Danish-style softened lines of which continue to subtly flare through the underside of the shank and stem. The bowl's lower aft and low-set transition meld well together for a pronounced, seamless cohesion, with the negative space between bowl and the upwardly sloping shank resembling a lazy checkmark of sorts. A crisp ridgeline atop the arcing shank demarcates the two flanks, creating a triangular shape that's mirrored in the stem's tall base, when seen from the pipe smoker's vantage point.

This Brandy is wearing one of the carver's well-executed, natural-finished sandblasts, showcasing a stunning array of rippling horizontal grain on both bowl and shank, the tight-stacks orderly and concise. The rim and a trim vertical band at the shank end have been left smooth for textural contrast, with the cumberland mouthpiece pairing well with the stummel's hues.