Taking Tom's signature, soft style of shaping in the plump, full curves of the bowl, this Eltang Liverpool then contrasts the voluptuous lines by pairing down any extra briar to reveal a long, lean, arrow-straight stretch of shank and stem. While that extra length, and sheer slimness, does make for a striking silhouette all on its own, it also creates a stark juxtaposition against the bowl, further accentuating all those soft, supple curves. Finished in a gorgeous, jet-black sandblast that reveals some seriously stunning ring-grain, this lithe little number is left smooth at the rim and shank base.

— Adam O'Neill