Smooth Volcano with Bamboo Tobacco Pipe

Based in Vermont, Abe Herbaugh is among the world's most premier artisans, and his work is renowned for its technical quality, aesthetic distinctness, and remarkable accent work. Herbaugh was already a seasoned instrument repairman before he transitioned to artisan pipe making, and such a background has translated seamlessly to handmade pipes: His understanding of tools, processes, and engineering are evident in his work, often pushing the aesthetic and craftsmanship boundaries of pipe making. With an equal appreciation for traditional designs as well as the design sensibilities of iconic carvers before him, Herbaugh boasts a robust portfolio of classic shapes with deftly crafted accents alongside avant-garde Freehands of singular style.

This Volcano is among this latter variety within the context of Herbaugh's œuvre. The Volcano is already a more avant-garde shape compared to typical Billiards, Apples, Bulldogs, and the like, and this rendition impresses even further with a stunning accent of bamboo. It's difficult to find sections of bamboo that maintain uniformity and steady rhythm between the knuckles, and the difficulty is expanded exponentially for sections featuring seven knuckles. Herbaugh continues the knuckles' rhythm and shaping through the stem base for a cohesive combination, and the slender stretch draws the eye toward the squat bowl at the fore: A short iteration of the Volcano, the bowl urges forward from the transition. A crisp ridgeline informs the taper toward the rim, while the heel is cupped and rounded. Moreover, Herbaugh's shaping has maximized this briar block's grain, with vertical grain matching the bowl's taper and birdseye dotting the rounded heel — all highlighted in a natural finish.