Adam Davidson: Partially Sandblasted One-Piece Billiard Tobacco Pipe

A seemingly unassuming Billiard from Adam Davidson, this piece has more to it than may meet the eye. Pipes with a briar stem aren't particularly common within pipe making, but they are available, hearkening back to old French pipes that featured both stummels and stems of briar. This Billiard does technically have a briar stem; however, it's not carved separate from the stummel — the entire pipe having been fashioned as one, complete, intact piece. There are no moving parts here, so to speak, nothing to be removed or disassembled. Instead of a tenon and mortise fit, the airway is drilled uniformly from bit to bowl, ensuring the easy passing of a pipe cleaner.

As a singular composition, this pipe personifies the two themes within Adam Davidson's portfolio: homage and innovation. Throughout his work, Adam will vacillate between hearkening back to vintage pipe designs and fashioning commemorative renditions of iconic shape's from other revered carvers — homage — and coming up with his own, inventive creations — innovation. This piece combines both aspects. The use of a briar stem, as mentioned before, is an early pipe making convention, but the method of carving the entire piece from one block is highly innovative. Furthermore, Davidson went so far as to carve extra-fine beadlines at the shank end and "stem" base, making for an optical illusion, of sorts, and giving the impression of separate pieces. Marked by a dual finish to accentuate the illusion, the form looks as though it's fitted with a mount configuration, while in reality being one complete sculpture.