Abe Herbaugh: Sandblasted Morta Tomato with Olivewood Tobacco Pipe

Some of the finest carvers seem to love playing with balance. That isn't necessarily a physical observation in this Tomato's case (though it is supremely balanced in profile), but more of a stylistic one. Presented as a part of our 2018 American Exposition, this piece from Abe Herbaugh seems to tread the threshold between delightfully organic and smoothly modernist. As is often the carver's penchant, Abe's lent it an asymmetrical form up front, with a rim that softly undulates around the circumference of the wide, somewhat playful bowl. And as it's fashioned from a combination of naturally striated, jet-black morta and the unique ink-on-water grain patterns of olivewood shaped into an elegant shank extension, it's lent an even more overt sense of individualism, to be sure. In one final feat, Abe's lent the stem one of his Sixten-inspired gladiolus bulb stem treatments, complementing the natural curvature of the shank's end, and set to it via a reverse tenon arrangement. A seriously cool piece, and remarkably lightweight as well.