Todd Johnson: Sandblasted Sarcophagus (Hoplite) Tobacco Pipe

The Sarcophagus is a Todd Johnson signature shape, and a rare one at that, making it a fine piece with considerable appeal for collectors. Johnson's work is in demand worldwide, his keen intuition for aesthetics and his masterful shaping acumen combining with decades of experience to produce truly artisanal pipes. This Sarcophagus is reminiscent of a Ukulele or Eskimo shape, with a wide body and flanks that arch smoothly all the way from lip button to graduated transition, reaching upward to support a squat bowl crowned with a Calabash-like rim. This piece utilizes a smooth, seamless transition The broad oval shank displays firm ridges at its flanks that stretch from the conjunction and up into the bowl, creating a sleek outline with tactile interest. Out back, a splendidly brindled vulcanite stem maintains the silhouette's sleek lines while providing a comfortable smoking posture. Dressed in a crisp, earthy sandblast, the stummel displays fine ring grain around the bowl, handsomely contrasted by the smooth, ruby rim, resplendent with swirling birdseye.