Alex Florov: Smooth Tomato with Bamboo and Juma Tobacco Pipe

A highly organic piece, this Tomato from Alex Florov combines striking curves and eye-catching color palette with an eccentric section of bamboo as part of the 2019's American Pipemaking Exposition. In profile, the pipe appears to be a fairly traditional bamboo-adorned Tomato rendition — the curve of the stem and shank extension leading the eyes into the squat, palm-filling bowl up front. When viewed from above, however, it's apparent that this is no "standard" piece of bamboo.

Somewhat oval of cross section, the three-knuckled bamboo has been tilted slightly askew and features a bowed curve from an aerial perspective, lending a subtle asymmetry to the form. From the side, the section is quite broad, flaring slightly into the stem base, but from above, its pinched flanks create a streamlined aesthetic that further accentuates the immensity of the thick-walled, plateau-topped bowl.

Catering to the bamboo's striking form, Alex has coupled this piece with an equally striking color combination. The stem base is fitted with juma — a composite material, often seen in knife handles, that Alex and his daughter, Dasha, have been experimenting with in their workshop — displaying a bright crimson hue and snakeskin-like visual texture. Using the juma as a starting point, Florov stained the bowl in a similarly vibrant, red-tinged contrast stain and accented the bamboo knuckles with nodules of black and red, continuing the juma's motif throughout the entire piece to marry the composition as a whole. It's a complementary pair to Dasha's entry into the Expo, both Florovs having fashioned Tomato designs utilizing juma and, of course, bamboo — perfect for a two-pipe set.