Yuwei: Partially Sandblasted Blowfish

This Blowfish from Yuwei Huang is among the most remarkable artisan interpretations I've been privileged to encounter and deftly demonstrates the Taiwanese carver's creative approach to organic forms. A plethora of firm ridgelines envelop the bowl, emanating from the curved, geometrically precise shank face and wrapping around the stummel. The shape's signature disc-like panels are outlined by the ridgelines that surround the flanks, each side displaying a beautiful array of birdseye. The line work is undeniably precise on this piece and I find myself particularly taken back when viewing this piece from an aerial perspective. That's because of how much the rim resembles an actual fish when looking down, with the rim's fore coming to a crisp point like a fish's head in profile while the aft curves in such a way that it looks like a tail. While the majority of the stummel is smooth, the entire topside of the pinched shank is sandblasted and works in tandem with the crisp ridgelines to offer a fascinating tactile experience in hand. Even the way the mouthpiece is shaped is stellar, with the base of the saddle stem perfectly mirroring the sloping orientation and ridgelines of the shank face.