Jody Davis Smooth Horn with Bocote (Saint) (Halo) (A07) (72) (2007) Tobacco Pipe

Jody Davis is an award-winning musician and renowned pipe maker. Davis' portfolio exhibits both American and Danish influences, with plenty of compact yet muscular designs that showcase refined, practical shaping. While he pulls from several different schools of design, Davis has cultivated a style that's uniquely his own and beloved by many.

It's remarkably difficult to take something as solid and dense as briar and transform it into a fluid, gestural form, yet Davis has made that endeavor look effortless with this Halo-graded Horn. Within Davis' grading system, the Saint holds the highest rank, generally speaking, but within the Saint grade there is the Halo sub-grade: reserved for only the most exceptional pieces. As such, this Horn is a truly venerable piece, showcasing the utmost quality in grain, shaping, and finish work.

For one thing, the arcing panels that frame the stummel's flanks showcase some of the most exceptional cross grain I've ever seen, and the birdseye displayed along the stummel's swooping top and underside is also nothing short of dazzling. These gorgeous grain patterns are emphasized by a smooth, auburn finish, which makes an excellent backdrop for the distinctive, highly stylized stem. Among other pipe-making talents, Davis is known for his inventive stem work, so it's no surprise to see this gestural, half-saddle stem with such seamlessly incorporated bocote. From stem to rim, it's safe to say that this Horn is an absolute stunner, and one that will elevate any collection of fine smoking instruments.