Xu Hai: Sandblasted Long Shank Bent Apple (0917) Tobacco Pipe

While plump, spherical forms are part and parcel to Xu Hai's work, this particular Long Shank bent Apple is just an excellent example of how the Chinese calligrapher/pipemaker handles line and curve. The fully rounded bowl sits high along the transition with a soft, lifting heel that allows the curves of the bowl to meld seamlessly with the arcing line of the underside — that gesture reflected in the subtle sweep of the transition and the slight flare of the shank as it approaches the mortise. The result is a continuous, fluid sort of aesthetic, one which guides the eye naturally from rim to bit, without actually resorting to a serpentine or overly dramatic S-curve in profile. Fitting to the minimalist shaping, Xu Hai's lent this piece a more formal palette: a dark, crisp sandblast for the large stummel with a trim wedding band of sterling silver to accent.

- Andrew Wike