Todd Johnson: Smooth Bent Dublin with Boxwood (Hoplite) Tobacco Pipe

Todd Johnson has garnered an international reputation for his highly original, sculpture-inspired pipes. While he has a degree in aesthetics from Yale, it wasn't until he studied under Tom Eltang and Lars Ivarsson that Johnson began to truly hone his skills in pipe making. Long before it was the norm, Johnson traveled to Denmark and learned not only what makes a pipe beautiful, but also functional. The Danish influence is evident in most of Johnson's work, and it's certainly evident in this bent Dublin. Shape-wise, this piece boasts a tall, thick-walled bowl that stands at the fore of a sweeping shank and a demurely curved saddle stem. Said bowl flares from its lifted heel to its broad, slightly asymmetrical rim, and as it does, it takes on a subtle forward cant that keeps the entire shape looking dynamic in profile. The shank boasts a flare of its own, and it rapidly expands toward the stem, drawing the eye across the pipe's aft and emphasizing the elegant curvature present there. Additionally, the shank's flare accentuates the presence of the boxwood band accenting the transition, with this band complementing the stummel's smooth auburn finish. This finish highlights gorgeous flame grain across the bowl's flanks. Stamped "Hoplite," this piece has earned one of Todd Johnson's highest grades.