Todd Johnson Smooth Long Shank Sitter with Camel Bone (Phalanx) (Q) Tobacco Pipe

Todd Johnson pipes combine the best of both form and function, bridging the gap between fine smoking instruments and fine art. This comes as no surprise, given Johnson's background: He earned a Master's degree in aesthetics from Yale University and studied under several of the pipe-making greats, including Tom Eltang and Anne Julie.

From stem to rim, this Phalanx Q-graded piece demonstrates Johnson's unparalleled eye for design. The high-set, softly rounded waistline of the bowl keeps the silhouette of this piece supple and inviting; its smooth contours are matched by the domed shoulders of the stem that tops off the long, slightly flaring shank. While this pipe is quite lengthy at nearly nine inches, Johnson has still managed to make it a stable Sitter, allowing the bowl to stand on a tidy, flattened plane on the heel, with the extra weight of the shank counterbalanced by the bowl's dramatic forward cant. Stunning grain abounds throughout the beautifully shaped stummel, with flame grain and birdseye seamlessly conforming to the contours and lines that inform the piece. A smooth, auburn finish accentuates all that stunning grain, while an inlay of camel bone along the base of the stem adds another lovely flourish.