yeah, i think it's hard, if not impossible, to really keep an author shape with anything other than a taper stem. agree on the diplomat/author shape too. they share some elements, but it does get away from being an author.Those are both beautiful pipes. Just my opinion, but I wouldn't consider either one an author.
Top one is a squashed tomato
Bottom one is a diplomat (unless the lines are being hidden by the hand holding it.)
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