Brad Pohlmann: Sandblasted John Bull with Stellar Sea Cow Tobacco Pipe

Born of an attempt to render the Bulldog a less intimidating of a shape to make for him, Brad Pohlmann's John Bull exemplifies the American carver's inclination toward the Danish aesthetic, fusing it with a rather refined English classical disposition. The effect is really quite interesting too, being a "sum-of-its-parts" display of undeniably crisp lines coming together to imbue the composition with the macro-effect of Danish fluidity. A poised, yet squat Bulldog bowl presents a full display of blasted birdseye all about the beveled rim, stained a warm umber, paired beautifully with a thick stem accent of stellar sea cow bone. The accent's light tone almost lends it the look of say, pale boxwood, which together with the aforementioned finish and dark cumberland stem ground this fellow firmly in the realm of pastoral.

- Daniel Bumgardner