Werner Mummert: Sandblasted Bent Brandy Tobacco Pipe

While Werner Mummert is known for crafting unique, boundary-pushing designs, he crafts more traditional shapes with the same level of precision and creativity, as evidenced by this stylish rendition of the bent Brandy shape. A snug interpretation of the classic form, this piece boasts tight-knit build that keeps the bowl and shank closely related. The bowl here stands atop a wide heel and offers supple walls that taper inward to a taut rim, rounding out the shape's frame and providing a comfortable in-hand feel. A steeply angled transition follows the bowl and gives way to an abbreviated, gently flared shank that joins a steeply curved tapered stem. The stem's flowing arc promotes a comfortable smoking posture and lends a touch of lithe gesture to the shape's otherwise dense, muscular profile. One of Mummert's crisp, extra-craggy sandblasts dresses the ensemble and draws out tight stacks of growth rings across all sides of the bowl.