David Huber: Smooth Billiard with Boxwood (0522) Tobacco Pipe

David Huber's portfolio ranges from compact Danish classics to more unique, asymmetrical designs. This straight Billiard is a lesser-seen shape from the North Carolina-based artisan, making it a most welcome presentation. Displaying Danish design cues, the tall, upright bowl exhibits soft lines and supple shaping from the rounded heel through the gentle taper upward to the gently curvaceous rim. It's pertly poised at the end of a cumulatively slender shank and stem, the entire length measuring five inches. The low-set transition emphasizes the bowl's height, with cheeking also seen along the flanks. David's attention to detail is admirable, with precise shaping seen in all aspects of this handsome pipe. It's dressed in a warm auburn contrast stain and once again, the carver's eye for shaping according to the grain is superb. Beautiful cross grain is quite pronounced at fore and aft, with handsome whorls of birdseye gracing either flank. Further commending this piece is a pale accent of boxwood at the shank end, complementing the tones of the stummel, while the ebony-hued, vulcanite mouthpiece promotes the high functionality and comfort for which Huber pipes are known.