David Huber: Sandblasted Blowfish (1923) Tobacco Pipe

David Huber is an American carver that takes inspiration from the Danish and Japanese pipe-making tradition, and as such, his work tends be quite organic, prioritizing sculpted lines and precise shaping. Huber began making pipes full-time in 2014 and received guidance in his early days from carvers like Jeff Gracik, Nanna Ivarsson, and Alex Florov.

This Blowfish deftly showcases Huber's impeccable craftsmanship and creative flair. The Blowfish is a notoriously difficult shape to craft, requiring a keen eye for briar selection and the upmost attention to detail. Huber was obviously up for the challenge, as this Blowfish stays true to the shape's traditional form while retaining a unique individuality. The bowl here is asymmetrically bifurcated by crisp ridgelines that wrap from the bowl's fore to the transition. A smaller ridgeline shores up one of the bowl's flanks, further reinforcing the visual asymmetry. The diamond shank, likewise, is uneven and incongruent, continuing the visual motif started by the bowl. A crisp sandblast dresses the stummel and highlights a tantalizing mixture for birdseye and cross grain across the briar's surface. The smoothly polished inner rim and the shank face provide touches of contrasting texture to the overall composition, making the rest of the stummel's earthy complexion and rugged surface stand out all the more.