Todd Johnson: Smooth Bent Egg with Horn (Phalanx) Tobacco Pipe

Todd Johnson's style often reflects his appreciation for organic shapes with supple curves and flowing lines and this bent Egg fits in perfectly with that aesthetic. The rim's shaping imbues this piece with a hint of forward-urging momentum with its slight backward cant and how the fore flicks upward in a subtle manner that gives it a higher vertical presence compared to the aft. The soft cheeking around the transition helps support the bowl's curvaceousness and makes it all the more pleasing in hand while the bulging flanks subtly taper toward the neatly chamfered rim, which adds some crispness to the composition's profile.

What also makes this piece particularly noteworthy is that is received Todd's Phalanx designation, second to only his Phalanx "Q" grade. As such, this piece displays immaculate grain, in this case a perfectly oriented cross-grain pattern. Pin pricks of birdseye adorn the flanks, separated by lanes of horizontal grain along the fore and aft with a light contrast stain adding definition to the striking grain. The shank end features a horn accent mount, its creamy hue complementing the stummel's coloration while the horn's brief flare is mirrored by the base of the saddle stem. The mouthpiece kicks upward before terminating in a graceful downturn at the lip button. It's a brilliant piece that showcases Johnson's precise shaping skills and ability to craft cohesive, well-balanced compositions.