Abe Herbaugh: Partially Sandblasted Volcano Tobacco Pipe

American pipe maker Abe Herbaugh originally worked as an electric-guitar builder and repair expert before lending his talents to pipe making. From starting out carving pre-cut blocks of briar to later learning artisan techniques, Herbaugh collected a wealth of pipe-making experience that shaped him into an exceptional craftsman. Herbaugh's designs often draw comparisons to the supple aesthetics of the Danish school, and many of his pipes feature a pronounced forward-urging dynamism.

This Volcano by Abe Herbaugh combines a sleek smooth finish and a rugged sandblast for palpable contrast. The upper bowl features a ruby-hued sandblast that highlights rippling growth rings ascending to the rim and striations of vertical grain that do the same. Furthermore, the rim features an extremely trim smooth-finished ring that encircles the chamber; when one looks at the bowl from the end of the stem, the rear of the smooth-finished ring disappears, moving one's attention to the fore. The underside features an identical finish, a vibrant auburn contrast stain that captures a stunning array of birdseye whorls, which are tightly-packed in the center and stretch out as they reach the upturned sides, creating a graceful, flowing sensation. Additionally, the stain adorns the parallelogram-shaped shank face as well, which exposes a sweeping section of vertical grain, contrasting both the sandblasted bowl and smooth-finished underside.

The pipe's structure is asymmetrical in nature, something that enhances the pipe's forward momentum. The bowl is placed slightly left of center, creating an organic flow to the rim's peak. The underside mimics its construction, with the nadir occurring far to the left, positioned beneath the transition. Additionally, a subtle ridgeline runs from the nadir to the shank face, creating a subtle facet that frames the profile, emphasizing the dive from the shank end. Furthermore, the pronounced profile emphasizes the ascent to the fore of the pipe, driving one's attention ahead. Here, Herbaugh uses both partial finishing and asymmetrical shaping to create an arresting sense of forward momentum.