Smooth, soft, and wonderfully contoured from fore to bit, here Alexander Tupitsyn has forgone his usual Ilsted-like use of firm lines for something much more supple and fluid. The sheer plumpness of the bowl, accentuated with somewhat-less-than-subtle cheeks to either flank and a low-set transition, move seamlessly into an abbreviated, broad shank — thanks in no small part to a luxuriously graceful line running from rim to shank face via the fore of the bowl.

Despite all of this hand-filling curvaceousness, the whole piece is expertly weighted. Visually the upward reaching shank meets the downturned stem to form a serpentine 's curve'. Physically the generous chamber takes the total weight down to a mere 51.7 grams.

To wrap it all in a neat little bow, Alexander has finished it in a warm contrast stain that perfectly highlights fine strands of flame grain, and contrasted neatly with a thin slice of boxwood adorning the stem.

— Adam O'Neill