Abe Herbaugh: Sandblasted Peewit with Bamboo Tobacco Pipe

Widely considered the grandfather of today's artisan pipe making movement, Sixten Ivarsson's influence can readily be seen in the techniques, shapes, and approaches used by modern carvers. Sixten's most famous shape is the Peewit and this interpretation from Abe Herbaugh is a striking homage to the late Danish master. It exudes the sleek, streamlined posture of Sixten's original design, with Abe imbuing the bowl with some subtle asymmetry reflecting Herbaugh's own style and creativity. Ivarsson was also one of the first to utilize accenting materials as part of the pipe's overall artistic composition, rather than just a functional aspect, and this pipe follows that paradigm-shifting ideal.

The use of bamboo on this Herbaugh piece maintains the form's sleek lines with the rhythm of the knuckles perfectly aligning with the spacing of the saddle stem's slightly bulbous base, a commonly used motif in Abe's work. The bamboo is also black bamboo, complementing the rest of the piece's dark color palette and not standing out in stark contrast like pale bamboo. The innermost portion of the rim features a thin band of smooth, neatly chamfered briar, stained a rich, mahogany hue. The bowl has fittingly been finished in a light depth, Danish-style sandblast with an array of undulating grain climbing the flanks without distorting the bowl's shaping and line work. It's a stunning piece that pays homage to the man who helped launch the artisan pipe-making movement, rendered by one of North America's most talented carvers.