Dasha Florov: Smooth Calumet Cavalier with Juma Tobacco Pipe

For this Calumet Cavalier, Dasha Florov incorporated several American themes, past and present. The design itself draws inspiration from the Native American calumet pipe, which is most defined by a bowl that extends out of the top of the shank. In this piece, that bowl is soft-lined and Egg-shaped, with subtle ridgelines down the flanks for accenting texture and slight asymmetry. Balancing the bowl's forward cant, a broad expansion ring tilts backward from the transition, echoing the bowl's accenting ridgelines and providing a counterbalance to the bowl itself. Florov, then, extended the shank into a fully-functioning Cavalier foot — the flattened cap able to be removed to drain moisture while also allowing this piece to sit upright.

Further aligning with this piece's American inspiration, the shank end and Cavalier foot are accented with turquoise-colored bands — the color being symbolic to the Navajo people, representing life and earth. The rest of said foot is then fashioned from pearlescent juma, adding visual texture and stunning, light-catching ability, with the base marked by a vivid, red stone. It all combines for a red, white, and blue accenting palette in reference to the flag of the United States and combining American histories. Much like the tradition of American artisan pipe making, which combines multiple styles and histories, sometimes marked by tension, this piece from Dasha combines traditional and modern elements of American history into one cohesive and impressive design.