Satou produces about 40 pipes each year. He uses a Japanese lacquer which looks perfectly wet and glossy and is extremely durable. The stem has a ring of Tsuishu, which are very thin multi-colored layers of Japanese lacquer that takes months to make.
This pipe is beautifully grained from every angle. I've seen a lot of pipe finishes in my career, but I've never seen a pipe this perfectly glossy. This piece would be the pinnacle of any pipe collection.
Smoked once or twice and has no darkening or other blemishes.
Length - 5 3/8 inches
Width - 2 x 2 1/4 inches
Height - 1 3/4 inches
Chamber - 3/4
Weight - 2.2 oz
