David Huber: Smooth Snail (Bull) (4819) Tobacco Pipe

If this impeccable piece of craftsmanship from David Huber seems familiar, that's because it was awarded Best Pipe in Show at the 2019 West Coast Pipe Show. Named "Snail Emerging from Its Shell" by Huber, it readily exemplifies years of dedication to the craft and the American carver's unique creative vision. It's a fitting name for the shape, the spiraling ridgelines along the flanks immediately calling to mind the shell of its namesake and creating a hypnotizing pattern.

The left flank is noticeably larger and more visually prominent, the swirling motif mimicked again along the right flank albeit in a much smaller manner. A single ridgeline emerges from the shank face and informs much of this piece's shaping. That crisp ridgeline travels from the shank's left side and wraps around the entire underside before continually swirling in a spiral pattern along the left flank. The ridgeline also separates the sea of birdseye along the left side from the tight streaks of straight grain that explode along the right. Though it's free of any accenting materials, the fluting lines of the mouthpiece add even more detail and a touch of playfulness to this striking piece.

It's an incredibly special design in many aspects for Huber and notably marks the introduction of his newly unveiled "Bull" stamp, denoting truly exceptional pieces in regards to their shaping and grain. David has crafted over 450 pieces during his time as a pipe maker and it wasn't until this Snail that he felt he produced a piece that was worthy of such a prestigious stamp. It's truly a testament to his belief in quality and high-standards as an artisan pipe maker. The Bull has long been a symbol for strength, determination, and perseverance, and is certainly an appropriate way to commemorate such a difficult, labor intensive design. It also happens to be a symbol for the city of Durham, North Carolina where Huber lives and carves pipes, making the stamp all the more fitting. A superlative piece that represents a pivotal moment in an incredibly gifted pipe maker's career.