Scott Klein: Smooth Bent Egg with Boxwood Tobacco Pipe

Born and raised in Elk Grove, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, Scott Klein developed a love for woodworking and design during his childhood. A few years out of high school, Klein became acquainted with Alex Florov, and, upon seeing Florov's portfolio of pipes, he became inspired to create his own briar pipes. Under the tutelage of Florov, Klein learned the intricacies of shaping, finishing, engineering, and design. Soon, Klein began to refine his unique style, incorporating modern, asymmetric design cues into classic Danish, American, and Japanese shapes. Klein exclusively dresses his pipes in smooth finishes and sandblasts, and he commonly utilizes exotic accents that further enhance the organic aesthetics of his pieces.

This bent Egg by Scott Klein is a prime example of his classically inclined piece, but still offers several standout flourishes. The bowl is plump and spherical, fitting pleasantly in hand, and it features a concave, oval rim, its crisp curvature accentuating the bowl's supple contours. Furthermore, the bowl is perched at a pronounced forward cant, which, along with the subtle bend of the thick shank, imbues this composition with an urging dynamism that is reminiscent of neoclassic Danish aesthetics. Out back the shank end is adorned with a pale boxwood band, which handsomely contrasts with the jet-black saddle stem and the chestnut smooth finish on the stummel. Said smooth finish showcases a sweeping pattern of cross grain that flows from the shank's flanks onto the bowl's bulging flanks, whereas the fore and aft of the bowl feature alluring swirls of birdseye.