Smooth Dublin with Bamboo Tobacco Pipe

Li Xin began making pipes in 2015 after several years of woodworking, eventually becoming the first apprentice of fellow China Academy of Art graduate Yang Zhimin. He left his regular job in 2016 to pursue pipe making full-time, and in 2018 launched Xin Pipes from a workshop in the attic above his apartment. Drawing on his background in design and art history, Li favors simple, well-proportioned designs with clean lines and little unnecessary ornamentation. Since 2023, he has specialized in bamboo pipes, allowing the natural character of the material to play an important role in each composition.

Among the first batch of Xin's pipes we've offered, this Dublin makes a strong first impression. Full of organic character, the composition features an elongated shank accented by a section of bamboo, while the bowl is defined by a pronounced dropping heel and tall, flaring walls that culminate in a plateau rim. The plateau itself is particularly striking, with its irregular, organic texture stained dark to accentuate its natural character in profile. The stummel is finished smooth in a rich contrast stain, highlighting mesmerizing flame grain across the bowl's tall flanks.