Smooth Elephant's Foot Churchwarden with Bamboo Tobacco Pipe

A woodworker for years before he started making pipes in 2000, Todd Johnson credits Danish legend Tom Eltang above all other artisans for influencing his work. He also learned from Lars Ivarsson, and formally studied aesthetics as a student at Samford University and Yale University.

This Churchwarden from Todd takes the classic shape seriously, but includes his own spin. Namely, the customary long stem — pushing this piece past 11 inches in length — is made of cumberland, while the shank is formed of a lightly bent arc of bamboo. It's a handsome, very original way of accomplishing the Churchwarden look that no doubt took considerable work on Todd's part, as well as considerable imagination. The Elephant's Foot bowl is backed by a short shank and sports some excellent grain — the flanks are dressed in tight cross grain and the fore and aft showcase brilliant birdseye. The bowl is also stained a lovely light brown that gives the grain plenty of room to breathe and finished smoothly for an eminently gentle touch to the hand. From heel to bit, it's an original, handsome, and very well-made piece from Todd that will satisfy any search for a unique Churchwarden.