Misc. Estates: Gregor Lobnik Sandblasted Volcano (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

Slovenian artisan Gregor Lobnic crafts his pipes in the village of Kamnica, Maribor in Slovenia, his closeness to Austria affording him the opportunity to learn his trade from long-time friend and master pipe maker Peter Matzhold. Appropriately, many of Lobnik's designs display a reserved, easygoing sinuousness reflective of the style of his teacher and the Danish tradition, with this Volcano being an excellent example. Compared to other Volcanos we've seen, this is an extremely understated example of the shape, its ridge-wrapped base expanding only slightly more than the bowl which rises above it. Not only this, the shank takes on just a gentle lift as it ebbs out of the transition, its slim shape meeting a saddle stem of appreciable length that features an expansion ring at its base, the easy arc of the stem offering a comfortable smoking posture. The enhanced slimness of the composition, especially through the aft, keeps the weight quite low, allowing for easy clenching, as well as contributing to a sleek, streamlined appearance. The bowl's forward urge imbues the piece with a palpable liveliness, while the stummel as a whole is dressed in a crisp, ruddy sandblast that reveals stacked ring grain throughout the bowl's walls, all while showcasing some flickering flame grain.