Xin Li Sandblasted Cherrywood Handmade Briar Pipe, New

A graduate of industrial design and art history, Xin Li came to pipe-making by chance, after a mutual friend introduced him to the notable Chinese artisan Yang Zhimin. Xin and Yang quickly developed a rapport, in part because both had attended the prestigious China Academy of Art, and because both had an affinity for woodworking. Yang took Xin on as an apprentice in his workshop and, soon enough, this apprenticeship became a pipe-making partnership. For several years, Yang and Xin worked together in handcrafting pipes under Yang’s Zhiputang make. In 2019, Xin departed from the Zhiputang workshop and the partnership was amicably dissolved, with Xin moving on to create pipes under his own name, while Yang continued with Zhiputang. Since his debut at MBSD Pipes, I’ve had a chance to speak more with Xin Li about his creative process. One thing that became very evident was a striving for balance in his compositions. Balance, of course, has many senses. Looking at this sandblasted cherrywood, for example, the first sense that comes to mind is the fact that it is a sitter, i.e., it stands upright unaided. There is also the sense of symmetry, with this one, despite its mixture of mediums (briar, bamboo, ebonite, etc.) having a clear line of symmetry running from button to base. The other sense of balance is in proportion. Everything fits together, nothing is too large or small in relation to its other; nothing is inordinate in length or breadth. Everything comes together in a coherent whole.    Details: Length: 4.7″ / 119.3mm Bowl Width: 0.71 / 18.03mm Bowl Depth: 1.22″ / 30.98mm Weight: 1.4oz / 42g