Abe Herbaugh: Smooth Acorn with Horn Tobacco Pipe

Abe Herbaugh is an accomplished American artisan that takes inspiration from the Danish school of pipe making, most notably in his use of supple curves and clean, minimalist lines. Such is the case with this Acorn, a curvaceous design with a consistent undercurve and a sweeping outline. Up front, a stocky, full-bodied bowl stands atop a lifted heel and grows thick walls that flare to a broad, rounded rim. A wide transition follows said bowl and marks the start of an upturned shank that quickly gives way to a ferrule of horn. This horn accent flares outward to a broad face that's echoed by the saddle stem's wide base, creating a visually stepped aft that draws focus to the junction. The junction is nearly aligned, in profile, with the apex of the bowl, fostering a sense of symmetry between either end of the composition and accentuating the negative space above the transition. A warm smooth finish completes the ensemble and highlights a wealth of stunning grain, with tendrils of flame rising up the bowl's flanks and terminating at a vast sea of birdseye along the rim.