American Estates: Todd Johnson Smooth Bent Dublin (Hoplite) (2006) Tobacco Pipe

Todd Johnson is one of the most recognized and respected artisans in America, and his contributions to modern American pipe making cannot be overstated. Johnson began carving pipes in the Spring of 2000, coming into the craft with a history of woodworking that afforded him a collection of useful tools and skills, though these skills were honed through teaching by Trever Talbert and, in 2001, Tom Eltang, who invited him to his workshop. Additional training at the hands of the legendary Lars Ivarsson provided him with a powerful arsenal of knowledge which he has used to create some of the most inventive and innovative pipes on the market, and has spread through teaching students of his own.

This bent Dublin is a great example of his signature shaping style, with curves abounding throughout the profile and a focus on momentum that stylistically carries the weight of the piece forward. That being said, the visual weight here is quite well balanced, slightly favoring the fore thanks to the abundance of detail present there. The shank and stem here take on a sinuous S-curve out of the wide transition, with the shank lifting gently as it flares into its plateau-clad face into which the stem base nestles, flaring out as it reaches toward the bit. These dual flares center a bit of visual intrigue at the aft side, as well as introduce a further bit of negative space near the transition, enhancing the effect it has at pulling the eye. Comfortably poised and elegantly postured, this combination is paired to the bowl near the midsection, calling to mind the Cherrywood shape, and is possessed of a firm ridge on the lower right flank of the shank.

The bowl here is rife with further ridges, one at either flank of the aft side, with the right's rising a bit higher and seen in the outline of the rim. Additionally, the plunging heel and its rounded base are encircled by a ridgeline, as is the entirety of the rim itself, all of them connected to one another thanks to the length of the rear pair. The bowl itself features a striking stance, leaning forward dynamically and dramatically as it flares out of the heel, with the heel's forward urge matched by that of the rim. This creates a crescent-like arc across the entire fore which inexorably draws the eye, though the most interesting part of the bowl's build is arguably the rim. Half-crowned in craggy plateau that sees the right flank rising taller than the left, the left side has been carved in a hollow fashion that lifts as it reaches the chamber, maintaining the plateau around it while offering a look that's reminiscent of a Stetson hat. Dressed in a fiery orange contrast stain, the stummel here sees wrapping flame grain across the bowl and through the flanks of the shank, while the rim and underside are peppered with birdseye.