Konstantin Shekita: Sandblasted Double Calabash Bent Bulldog with Silver and Gold Tobacco Pipe

One of the first Ukrainian artisan pipe makers, Konstantin Shekita has been carving pipes for over 30 years, and in those decades he has cultivated a design outlook that ranges from the classic to the highly sculptural. This bent Bulldog is a special piece from Shekita for several reasons, as it boasts a truly remarkable substance in an impressively compact form, and it marks two firsts within Shekita's tenure on our site; Not only is this pipe the first instance of the bent Bulldog shape we've ever received from the artisan, but it's the first time he's ever presented us with a pipe that features double Calabash engineering. Calabash engineering refers to the specialized combination of chamber cap and condensation chamber that typifies traditional Calabashes, where smoke is allowed to accumulate and condense, cooling it before it reaches the smoker. As a double Calabash, this pipe features both standard Calabash engineering and reverse Calabash engineering, the shank having been hollowed to create a secondary condensation chamber: further cooling the smoke and significantly reducing its moisture content.

Shape-wise, this pipe displays a shocking heartiness, with a well-developed thickness showcased throughout and an imposing feel in hand. The transition is tight, though not as the result of a sharp curve, rather, the shank's somewhat conservative lift is marked by an expressive flare out to a broad face. The thick shank is paired to a short saddle stem whose base continues the briar's expansion until reaching the bit, with the junction marked by a trim band of silver fitted to the stem. All the shank's robustness is functional, however, as it increases the volume of this pipe's secondary condensation chamber: enhancing the effectiveness of this pipe's dual Calabash engineering. The shank is lined with the Bulldog's iconic diamond paneling, the ridges present at the flanks maintaining a consistent breadth and creating an area of subtle hollowing at the edges of the transition while they curl around to the fore and descend to the lowermost ridge. This bottom ridge lines the heel and sharpens it significantly, supporting the bowl as it grows thick walls that flare out to a mid-set waistline. The waist is marked by a pair of beadlines that additionally denote a taper to the rim, the lower beadline concealing where the chamber cap fits into the stummel, with the rim itself showcasing a softly inflated look that subtly enhances the curves present across the rest of the bowl. Dressing the stummel here is a crisp, inky sandblast that reveals a wealth of handsome grain, with growth rings rippling down the lower bowl in dense bands and a sunburst pattern across the underside.