Sandblasted Lars Blowfish with Masur Birch Tobacco Pipe

Formerly known as the American Pipe Making Exposition, our annual Global Pipe Making Exposition features contributions from some of the world's foremost artisans, all united around a central theme. One of the most exciting events of the year for carvers, smokers, and enthusiasts of briar alike, the Global Exposition acts not only as a showcase for the immense talent of these artisans but as a focus for the boundless creativity that these masters of the art possess. For 2026, the theme of our Expo is "The Art of the Sandblast," celebrating the artistry and craftsmanship behind one of the most meticulous finishing techniques in pipe making. Through the sandblast, these artisans transform the natural grain of briar into textured works of art, highlighting the unique character of each block and demonstrating the artistry of the technique.

Brad Pohlmann is one of the few artisans who has seen both eras of American pipe making: The '70s and '80s saw bold, dramatic designs influenced by Italian and Danish Fancy Freehand styles, while the late '90s onward introduced refined, avant-garde pipes inspired by the Danish and Japanese schools of design. This experience in stylistic history still holds bearing in Brad Pohlmann's design style, and Pohlmann himself is now known as one of the most renowned artisans in North America thanks to his meticulous engineering and artistic skill.

With such a deep understanding of pipe design behind him, it is little wonder that Brad chose the Blowfish for our 2026 Expo — a shape particularly well-suited for showcasing briar grain to its fullest potential. This particular Blowfish is heavily associated with refined Danish aesthetics, being an interpretation of the iconic Lars Ivarsson Blowfish. As it exists in modern pipe making, the Blowfish is defined by a central panel of cross grain and flanks of birdseye; however, Danish artisans often prioritized symmetry and maintained a minimalist aesthetic, free of flourishing ridgelines.

In this piece, Pohlmann remains true to that tradition while putting his own stamp on the form. The bowl carries a Brandy-like taper, while the ridgeline flows softly through one flank. From there, it continues along one side of the shank, becoming sharper in profile as it progresses, while the opposite side remains rounded. This juxtaposition creates a distinct lenticular profile across the shank face, which Pohlmann has accented with a warm accent of Masur Birch. In keeping with this year's Expo theme, the stummel has been lightly sandblasted in a distinctly Danish style, emphasizing uniform, stacked growth rings that run along the flanks of the bowl. Overall, this is a handsome and thoughtfully composed piece, with each contour carefully considered to maximize the natural beauty of the briar and provide an exceptional display of grain.