Wojtek Pastuch: Sandblasted Belge with Horn Stem and Silver (0922) Tobacco Pipe

Wojtek Pastuch is an incredible artisan, at once capable of brilliantly executing a more evocative design like his signature "Groot," while simultaneously revitalizing old classic shapes through his own stylistic lens. This Belge shape falls into the latter group, so much so, in fact, that it could stand as a microcosm for his approach to traditional forms at large. But to understand the genius of the piece, we need to break down the components:

The Belge is a historic shape, one directly inspired by the form of old tavern pipes; horn, likewise, is a historic material, quite popular in the early 20th century before the advent of Ebonite. Even the military mount is steeped in pipe history — originating from soldiers fixing spent shell casings to their shanks as a form of on-the-fly repair. On the micro level, every aspect of this design is historic, but on the macro, it's incredibly modern. Wojtek has taken individual artifacts from pipe-making history and combined them to create something novel: a vintage, old-school shape crafted from vintage, old-school materials, executed in a remarkably modern style.