Todd Johnson: Partially Rusticated Blowfish (Hoplite) Tobacco Pipe

The Blowfish design typically falls within two categories: One is muscular and bulbous, while the other is sleek and streamlined. Todd Johnson has rendered his fair share of both iterations, with this particular one falling more toward the latter. Though hearty of bowl and deep of chamber, the overall profile remains quite slender and full of forward-thrusting dynamism. The elongated shank is subtly paneled and slightly canted to both add some asymmetry as well as align with the left flank's high-waisted bulge. Combined with this expertly executed subtlety, the finish is simply out of this world — Todd has adorned the majority of the stummel in a grooved rustication style, as horizontal bands wrap the top of the bowl and coiled ripples emanate from out of the center of the left side. The right flank, then, has been polished smooth and stained a lighter, mahogany hue to highlight a sea of birdseye. Beautifully creative work from the American artisan.