Abe Herbaugh: Sandblasted Bent Apple Tobacco Pipe

We've seen a number of these compact, curvaceous, and chubby forms from Abe Herbaugh recently, the American artisan often playing with asymmetry in nosewarmer proportions. This bent Apple fits well into that style and Herbaugh's Danish-inclined aesthetic overall, the profile sweeping through the stem and shank and lifting the heel to juxtapose dynamic lines against the bowl's plump curves. The shank is pinched in an oval cross section, softening the transition to provide a comfortable thumb rest and gliding into the bowl's fore. Overall, it's a rather simple and reserved form, echoed by the classic, jet-black color palette, yet Abe has tastefully accented this piece, not with alternative materials, but with subtle asymmetry throughout the shape — when viewed from the smoker's perspective, the shank angles downward to the left, the right side slightly higher which, then, informs the bowl's right flank rising above the left. Such deft shaping adds unique individuality to the otherwise conservative design, making it all the more intriguing and cherished in one's collection.