Alex Florov: Smooth Fig with Horn Tobacco Pipe

While most well-known for his expressive, strikingly-shaped Freehands, this piece by Alex Florov showcases a more reserved offering from his portfolio. An uncommonly seen shape, the Fig is often characterized by an Acorn-like bowl, with walls flaring upward to a round, inflated rim and fashioned with a jutting, spur-like heel. This piece, however, is a signature Fig rendition by Florov, foregoing the spurred heel for a more supple, curvaceous one, showcasing the Russian-American carver's inclination toward sleek, Danish and Japanese-inspired designs. Also on display is a dynamic sense of gesture throughout the composition. Starting with the forward-ebbing bowl, its squat, plump figure sits atop a sweeping, upturned heel, creating a shape that contours well to the hand. A slender shank lifts out of the transition, fashioned with a subtly flaring military mount of genuine horn that accepts a trim stem with a crisp expansion ring at its base, the arrangement's posture deftly guiding the eye toward the front of the composition. Dressing the stummel is a smooth contrast stain, highlighting whorls of lovely birdseye traveling across the underside and offering a rich complement to the creamy hues of the horn mount.