Abe Herbaugh: Smooth Opah Fish (Crane) Tobacco Pipe

Abe Herbaugh's portfolio is a vast and diverse one in regard to shape and style. His pieces range from more conservative, artisan renditions of classic shapes (albeit each imbued with Herbaugh's organic aesthetic) to, then, pieces like this Opah Fish, displaying wild freehand designs, replete with intricate ridgelines and completely unique, one-of-a-kind forms.

This piece hews closely to its namesake, the opah fish, featuring a broad, splayed form in profile, while remaining quite slender when viewed from the smoker's perspective. Like the Blowfish, a slanted panel of cross grain divides both flanks, leaving birdseye at the smaller left side and a crisp, dense array of plateau on the broad right flank. At the underside, Herbaugh has done a marvelous job at fashioning a detailed assortment of ridges and valleys, creating a fin-like accenting touch. Stunning work and no doubt deserving of his prestigious "Crane" stamp.