Wolfgang Becker: Sandblasted Bent Apple with Boxwood (Double Wolf Paw) Tobacco Pipe

Wolfgang Becker's pipes often present organic, bulbous shaping that show Danish influences, along with a bit of asymmetry, while also offering balance, expert engineering, and touches of whimsicality. That design aesthetic is evident in this robust, yet compact bent Apple. A lifting heel contributes to its dynamic, forward-surging momentum, with supple curves and a hearty demeanor making for a voluptuous fit in hand. The German carver has paired the nearly palm-filling bowl with an equally muscular, rounded and upward-flicking shank that extends from a high-set, yet elongated transition, further emphasizing the compressed, stocky disposition. Said shank is slightly tilted for accenting asymmetry and flares into a pale, gently beveled boxwood accent, the slightly concave shaping quite striking. It's topped by a hand-cut, vulcanite stem adorned with a stylish expansion ring, which delightedly continues that circular rhythm established by the accent. Wolfgang has dressed this piece in one of his earthy, rust-colored sandblasts, highlighting the briar's handsome grain patterns, while the smooth, chamfered rim also speaks to the boxwood accent's intriguing shaping. This pipe has earned the artisan's Double Wolf Paw grade, the second highest assignation in his rating system.