Scott Klein: Smooth Volcano Tobacco Pipe

Born and raised in Elk Grove, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, Scott Klein developed a love for woodworking and design during his childhood. A few years out of high school, Klein became acquainted with Alex Florov, and, upon seeing Florov's portfolio of pipes, he became inspired to create his own briar pipes. Under the tutelage of Florov, Klein learned the intricacies of shaping, finishing, engineering, and design. Soon, Klein began to refine his unique style, incorporating modern, asymmetric design cues into classic Danish, American, and Japanese shapes. Klein exclusively dresses his pipes in smooth finishes and sandblasts, and he commonly utilizes exotic accents that further enhance the organic aesthetics of his pieces.

At first glance, the classic elements of the Volcano shape are readily apparent in this piece by Scott Klein. The crisp, low-set ridgeline that wraps around the bottom of the stummel, the walls' swift taper to the rim, and the well-bent shank encapsulate the traditional features of the muscular Volcano. However, several asymmetric flourishes are present as well. The walls on the left flank actually subtly flare just beneath the rim, creating a palpable concavity, while the right flank features a sharp, ascending ridge. The rim itself is slanted left-to-rght, and its trim surface cants gently inward to the chamber. Additionally, the Volcano's low-set ridgeline also presents subdued asymmetry, as it flows beneath the transition on the right flank and then gently blends into the shank's underside, lending the shank a supple, teardrop cross-section. Moreover, the finishing here offers a textural flourish, as the underside of the bowl is adorned with a circular swath of plateau, offering a palpable contrast against the auburn smooth finish. Furthermore, the finish highlights sublime grain, as flame grain surrounds the bowl while birdseye abounds on the broad, curvaceous underside.