Sam Adebayo: Sandblasted Lovat with Bakelite Tobacco Pipe

One of Sam Adebayo's earliest influences when he started carving pipes was the work of Bruce Weaver, who passed away in 2019. Bruce would post pictures of his pipes on an online forum that Sam followed, and Weaver's work inspired Adebayo to dive deeper into artisan pipe making, approaching pipes as more than just utility-based smoking instruments, but also as artistic compositions. Specifically, Sam was drawn to Bruce's shapes — Lovats, Cutties, and Belges — which Sam shows an affinity for in his portfolio, as well as Bruce's sandblasting style and frequent use of Bakelite.

In accordance with the theme of "Influence" for this year's American Pipe Making Exposition, Sam Adebayo presents this Bruce Weaver-inspired Lovat. The shape itself calls to mind the designs that Sam was most taken by in Bruce's work, but the palette and stem material most notably honor the late artisan. Dressed in a dark-stained sandblast, the stummel exudes an extra-fine texture, calling to mind the results of Weaver's signature sandblasting technique and drawing focus to the mouthpiece. The stem is fashioned from Bakelite, a material championed by Bruce, and the striking toffee and caramel hues of the medium offer a modern palette that wouldn't have been out of place on a Weaver pipe. Adebayo is also an artisan with a penchant for bakelite stems, making the use of it here an excellent cross-over between his and Bruce's work, resulting in a tasteful and personal homage.