American Estates: Abe Herbaugh Sandblasted Bent Egg with Bamboo (2015) Tobacco Pipe

Abe Herbaugh is an accomplished American artisan who takes inspiration from the Danish school of pipe making, most notably in his use of supple curves and clean, minimalist lines. For much of his adult life, Herbaugh built electric guitars, and his years of experience in that trade are evident in every pipe he crafts, as he brings his meticulous eye for detail to bear with every piece. This bent Egg is a handsome showcase of Herbaugh's style.

This piece boasts a tall, full-bodied bowl that stands at the fore of a sweeping shank-and-stem arrangement. Said bowl stands atop a lifted heel and grows slender insulating walls that terminate a gently chamfered rim. A stretch of dark bamboo extends the shank and lends a touch of organic flair to the shape's profile. Each knuckle of the bamboo is evenly spaced from the transition to the shoulders of the saddle stem, fostering a sense of visual rhythm across the aft of the composition. A ruby-hued sandblast dresses the stummel and unveils rippling grain across the flanks of the bowl.