Werner Mummert: Sandblasted Bent Brandy with Tagua Nut Tobacco Pipe

German artisan Werner Mummert is among the most distinctive and innovative carvers working today. His inventive approach to shaping and unmistakable finishes make his work highly sought after, and with good reason. This bent Brandy is an excellent example of Mummert's muscular shaping style and signature sandblast, featuring a plump bowl that tapers smoothly upward from its chubby heel. The shank meets a cheeked transition, extending into the heel in a defined "V" shape and flaring outward as it moves back toward the stem. The stem is quite noteworthy in itself, featuring a thick accent just past the tenon made of mottled tagua nut. The mouthpiece is comfortably bent and tapered, made of hand-cut vulcanite. Dressed in Mummert's unique sandblast, the ruby-stained stummel boasts exceptionally defined ring grain all around the bowl, offering a wealth of engaging texture that accentuates the bowl's taper. For an extra touch of contrast, the rim is left smooth, displaying fine birdseye in a chestnut hue.