American Estates: Todd Johnson Partially Sandblasted Samurai Volcano (Hoplite) Tobacco Pipe

This Samurai Volcano from Todd Johnson is a stunning design that merges organic, muscular shaping with a sweeping lines and subtle curves. The form's characteristic broad, ridgeline-wrapped base and steady taper toward the rim are present, but the bowl possesses a forward-ebbing momentum not typically associated with the design. The momentum is most evident in the rim's forward lean and the sharp, cresting point the heel comes to at the fore of the bowl. The aft side of the bowl slopes toward the low-set transition, a gradual, even descension that contrasts against the fore side's more sheer drop-off. The shank erupts from the low-set transition, just above the Samurai rendition's characteristic spur, and curls upward toward an abbreviated saddle stem of jet-black vulcanite, and as it does so, it rapidly expands to a broad face, which draws attention to its sweeping line work. Johnson opted to dress this piece in a unique mixture of finishes: most of the stummel wears a dark, crisp sandblast, while the rim and underside of the bowl are left smooth and stained a warmer color for contrast. The underside of the bowl also boasts a carved patch for further textural diversity. The aforementioned sandblast coaxes out rippling waves of growth rings that are almost scale-like in appearance, providing a nice sensory experience for the fingers as well as the eyes. It's a handsome bit of craftsmanship, and it's no wonder Johnson awarded it his Hoplite grade.