Wojtek Pastuch: Sandblasted Apple with Black Palm (1314) Tobacco Pipe

Known for his skillful craftsmanship and carefully rendered designs gleaned from an impressive attention to detail, Wojtek Pastuch has earned quite a name for himself as a talented artisan. The Polish carver's portfolio ranges from sophisticated classics to pieces rife with playful creativity. His shaping style is often influenced by Danish and English design cues, the former not a surprise as he trained with Tom Eltang in Denmark. Additionally, Pastuch worked with one of the world's finest briar cutters, Domenico "Mimmo" Romeo of Italy, from whom he learned the importance of quality briar blocks, the bedrock of any pipe maker's design aesthetic.

A fairly traditional take on the classic Apple shape, this piece by Pastuch pairs a rotund bowl to a lean, arrow-straight shank-and-stem arrangement. Reminiscent of Italian neoclassical design, the bowl takes up most of the visual weight within the composition, its wide stance, broad flanks, and muscular curvature overshadowing the comparatively lean shank and stem. Additionally, the bowl possesses a subtle forward cant that adds a touch of dynamism to the shape's profile and gives the overall form the impression of surging momentum. A craggy sandblast dresses the stummel and draws out rippling growth rings across all sides of the bowl, while an accent of black palm extends the shank and complements the dark complexion of the finish.