Werner Mummert: Sandblasted Apple Tobacco Pipe

Werner Mummert's portfolio of pipes ranges from classics to simply ingenious, innovative creations. His signature Apple design as seen here is a fine example of the latter. This rendition features an especially plump, curvaceous bowl with a beveled rim and pinched transition of equal height. The shank, then, quickly slopes downward while flaring, with the broad, distinctive saddle stem seamlessly continuing that dynamic trajectory. The contrast between the rounded bowl and the combination out back, with its angles and slopes is pleasing to the eye because it's all so well-balanced, certainly a testament to the German artisan's astute craftsmanship.

Werner has dressed the stummel in a fiery crimson sandblast that crisply defines tight-knit stacks of pronounced ring grain around the bowl and down the shank. The chamfered rim and V-shaped underside are smoothly stained the same hue for unity, with a trim accent band furthering that aesthetic. The mouthpiece consists of complementing tones of brindled vulcanite in this sure Sitter, all of which culminates in another delightful piece that's sure to stimulate lively conversation.