Yuwei: Smooth Fish with Mammoth Tobacco Pipe

Drawing inspiration from Danish and American carvers, Taiwanese artisan Yuwei produces highly unique and often times organic compositions, as evidenced by this Fish. Sweeping of line and dynamic of pose, this piece sees a plump, forward-canted bowl posed at the end of a flaring shank and a demurely curved saddle stem. The bowl's surging posture lends the shape an active posture, which is accentuated by the shank and stem's opposing trajectory. The shank flares dramatically as it exits the transition, and this flare naturally draws the eye to the shank end, which is adorned with a lively mammoth accent. The gorgeous mammoth brings to mind marble, its complexion and earthy hues naturally melding with the rest of the pipe's color palette.

A vibrant, orange-hued smooth finish adorns the stummel and highlights gorgeous grain across the briar's surface. Striking galaxies of birdseye adorn the flanks of the bowl and shank, while tight threads of cross grain cover the bowl's fore, aft, and the the top of the stummel. All this gorgeous grain immediately captures one's attention and deftly showcases Yuwei's ability to shape in order to maximize the grain of a given block of briar. A handsome composition, this piece simply impressive, and it will no doubt become a favorite member of a discerning collector's rotation.