Todd Johnson has garnered a significant following in the United States during the last few years and there is certainly no mystery as to why. Quite simply, Todd makes some of the most extraordinary pipes being made in the United States. Todd Johnson, along with the likes of Michael Lindner, Trever Talbert and Jody Davis, has been at the forefront of the new high-grade revival in the United States. Todd began making pipes in the late 1990s and made extraordinary improvements very quickly. Under the tutelage of Trever Talbert, Todd began to master the fundamentals of pipe making. In addition to technical training, Todd attributes his pipe making philosophy to Trever—make a small number of the finest pipes possible. Trever explained that this would allow Todd to focus his craft in the direction he most desired, rather than being a slave to production numbers. With this in mind, Todd put off selling his pipes until he was sure that he was creating pipes that satisfied his meticulous standards.

Todd has had a longtime interest in the classical world. He pursued this interest in university, studying classical history at Samford University in his home state of Alabama. This training as a classicist has certainly affected his pipe making. One comes to realize how cerebral the art of pipe making truly is when considering one of Todd’s pipes. The influence of being intellectually exposed to classics can be seen in each of his creations. It is sometimes tough to say what experience or intellectual pursuit shapes the subconscious of a carver, but with Todd his love of classical Greek culture and life seem to permeate all his work. If at times, it is difficult to see the classical influence in his art; in his nomenclature it is crystal clear. The name chosen for STOA Briars is a reference to Greek city life. The Stoa Attalos were painted colonnades in the agora (the market place or city center) which was the hub of political life in ancient Athens. Socrates, who haunted the agora, often debated what the best life was. I am of the opinion had he known of tobacco there would have been little need for discourse on that subject.

Todd previously had three grades. His three principal grades, Spartan, Athenian and Alexandrian, were named for Greek cities in the ancient world, each grade having some characteristic that defined one of those cities. Recently however, he has changed his grading system somewhat. His sandblasted pipes are labeled Athenian and smooth finish pipes are Alexandrian. He also has a stamp for his highest caliber work – the Hoplyte (The hoplytes were heavily armed foot soldiers of Ancient Greece). The stamp used to denote this grade is the famous Hoplyte helmet in profile.

Though he began selling pipes in 1999, Todd really came of age as a pipe maker following two visits to Denmark to work with and learn from master pipe carver Tom Eltang. Eltang’s tutelage left an indelible mark upon the young pipe maker. Though Todd has a style that is certainly all his own, there are many specific methods and styles that he has borrowed from his mentor. The engineering of Stoa Briar pipes, for example, is quite similar to those of Tom Eltang. Indeed, this is high praise for Todd, as Eltang is well known for his exceptional pipe engineering and the resulting quality of the smoking characteristics. Additionally, influence from Eltang shows up in some of Todd’s shapes from time to time, including his variations on the classic Eltang cutty, and in his finishing and staining work. Tom Eltang is known for his dark, high contrast stain and Todd uses a similar stain on some of his pipes.

Though Eltang has had a considerable influence on the young American pipe maker and Todd’s style is a variation on the aesthetic that can be characterized as high-grade Danish or Danish Modern, he certainly has a style that is very much his own. There is more to Todd’s style than mere variation on Danish themes, though. Frequently, his shapes seem inspired by Classical artistic and architectural elements, which is hardly surprising given Todd’s intellectual proclivities. It seems foolish to talk of an American style, not so much because it has not been defined, but rather because America is, in its essence, an amalgamation of styles. Todd is similar in his pipe making, drawing from multiple influences, building upon the past, he is constantly expanding his horizon, entering new ground. The American cultural influence is seen most in the fact that Todd Johnson desires to explore so many different shapes and styles. This approach contrasts with a pipe carver like Smio Satou who desires to perfect and explore one avenue, one specific aesthetic vision. Todd Johnson seems to want to explore all possibilities, all possible aesthetics. In addition to his Danish and Classicist influences, Todd is quite consciously inspired by some Japanese pipe makers, notably Hiroyuki Tokutomi. Is it not this openness and individualism that would most clearly define what it means to be an American pipe maker?

STOA briars are also well known for Todd’s exceptional bamboo work. The bamboo itself is of incredibly high quality. It is extremely clean (in terms of blemishes) and usually very tightly knuckled. Bamboo is a decidedly fickle material (indeed, much the same could be said of briar). The bamboo used for pipe making is actually the rhizome, not the shoot. Therefore, the bamboo used for pipes grows underground and is frequently irregular or blemished. In addition to using bamboo of only the highest, cleanest quality, Todd uses it to great effect.

In early 2003, Todd, with his wife Rachel, moved to New Haven, CT so that Todd could pursue graduate studies at Yale Divinity School. Due to the time required by his academic pursuits, Todd was only able to make about six pipes per month, with an annual production of roughly seventy pipes. He has recently graduated with his Master’s degree, so we hope and expect to see far more of Todd’s exceptional pipes.

The pipe community should be excited at the prospects of this young American. It is interesting to speculate on how his style will develop. An artist always incorporates new experiences and new ideas into his work. With such a contemplative man as Todd, it will not be surprising to see a development and progression in style that reflects his recent studies. It seems fair to say that what drives Todd intellectually, his desire to know, to understand, is apparent in all his creations. A pipe is often considered a great aid to serious thought. A man with a pipe always seems to be contemplating something a little beyond the day to day world. It seems fitting that a gentleman like Todd would find his calling in creating this sort of utilitarian art.

Here, Todd (left) is shown working with Japanese pipe master Hiroyuki Tokutomi: