Abe Herbaugh: Smooth Horn Tobacco Pipe

The paneled Horn was one of the most iconic shapes conceived by legendary Swedish carver Bo Nordh, a shape he called the Oliphant. It has been re-imagined by several carvers since its creation and is a particularly sleek design, where the shaping has to be precise in order to follow the briar's natural grain orientation. Abe Herbaugh has here taken on the challenge of the shape, carefully balancing the mix of lines that comes with a shape so fluid of curvature, yet crisply paneled on all sides.

The execution is superb, resulting in a piece that shows off the briar's stunning grain with each line carefully considered and expertly utilized. Cross grain adorns the paneled side flanks while mesmerizing patterns of birdseye dominate the entire top and bottom of the stummel with the rich contrast stain making the grain even more captivating. The softly domed rim helps soften the profile while its innermost portion is chamfered and slopes inward to the chamber. The curve of this piece is also particularly noteworthy, maintaining the gradual curvature into the mouthpiece, which helps hold the bowl in a more upright position when clenched, rather than canting forward as it would with a stem recurved downward. It's a wonderful homage to one of the greatest pipe makers the world has ever seen and ably demonstrates Herbaugh's immense talents.