Scott Thile: Sandblasted Volcano (FH) (523) Tobacco Pipe

Scott Thile got his start in pipe making like many before him, with a DIY pipe kit. Thile's skills began to grow through trial and error, visiting pipemakersforum.com and drawing inspiration from other American pipe makers. Thile's shapes tend to err toward the traditional, as he expertly crafts lots of classics like Bulldogs and Dublins, which make wonderful canvases for his warm smooth finishes and detailed sandblasts. Thile once described his pipe-making aesthetic as such: "the Danish neoclassics as interpreted by the North American greats," and that style is clearly represented by this Volcano.

It's always a pleasure to see one of Scott Thile's Volcanos, one of his rarer shapes that we see about once a year. This Volcano is a departure from most of his previous renditions, as it possesses a lengthier profile due to the squished, elliptical cross-section of the bowl and the gentle bend of the shank and stem. Also, the bowl features a firm taper to the rim, defined by linear lines that angle significantly at the fore but become increasingly vertical at the flanks. The stummel is framed by the Volcano's requisite crisp ridgeline that is completely continuous, seamlessly flowing onto a ridge at the fore of the vulcanite stem. Moreover, the sharp and firm aesthetics of this pipe do not make it rigid, as the supple underside provides a curvaceous element to the pipe, which contributes to the supremely comfortable in-hand fit.

This pipe is dressed in one of Thile's intricate sandblasts that focuses less on creating a craggy surface and more on displaying the harmonious dynamic between grain and growth rings. Although the undulating growth rings pop out of the composition, the flame grain shines beautifully here as well, expanding downwards from rim to ridgeline. The subtle blast is dressed in a stain that ebbs and flows between red hues and black undertones, giving the stummel a captivating, organic presence. Considering the small smooth accent at the shank end and traditional jet-black vulcanite stem, Thile doesn't want to distract from the gorgeous growth rings and flame grain on the stummel, those that the Volcano shape is designed to accentuate.