Smooth Natural Barling Tribute The 'Corinthian' with Silver Spigot and Wind Cap (Crane) (with Case) Tobacco Pipe

Formerly known as the American Pipe Making Exposition, our annual Global Pipe Making Exposition features contributions from some of the world's foremost artisans, all united around a central theme. One of the most exciting events of the year for carvers, smokers, and enthusiasts of briar alike, the Global Exposition acts not only as a showcase for the immense talent of these artisans but a focus for the boundless creativity that these masters of the art possess. For 2025, the theme of our Expo is "In Memoriam," celebrating the life and works of artisans who have passed on, yet whose impact on the craft and those around them is utterly undeniable.

Abe Herbaugh is as much an expert silversmith as he is a skilled artisan pipe maker. His faculty with the precious metal as deft as his ability to artfully shape briar, and collectors around the world prize his work, especially pieces featuring his silverwork. For 2025's Global Pipe-Making Exposition, Herbaugh honored Benjamin Barling through one of the most impressive feats of artisan pipe making ever conceived, proving why he's considered not just one of the best pipe makers today, but also one of — if not the — best silver craftsman in the pipe industry.

At its inception in 1812, B. Barling & Sons was more of a silversmithing enterprise than a pipe manufacturer, adorning meerschaum pipes with intricate silver accents. Even as the company moved into crafting briar pipes, the Barlings maintained a focus on ornate and quality silver through the end of the 19th century and into the early 20th century. Early Barling catalogs showcased a number of special designs, often paired with cases, that displayed stunning silverwork and were often given lofty names that bespoke their prestige. Herbaugh's The 'Corinthian' accurately reflects these prestigious Barling pipes from a over a century ago, with virtually every aspect of this piece entirely handmade by Herbaugh himself.

Immediately, the sheer amount of silver adorning this pipe is noteworthy; it's the most silverwork Herbaugh has ever featured on a pipe — and probably ever will. This piece was a labor of love specifically for this year's Exposition and not something he plans to ever repeat. To inventory: The pipe features a silver spigot mount, with fitments along the stem base and shank end; a silver rim cap; a silver wind cap; and a shank extension that features spigot-mount configurations at either end — one to fit the mortise and the other to fit the mouthpiece, effectively morphing the pipe into a Churchwarden when so desired. And it's all housed in a supple, goat-leather-covered hard-shell case lined with 100% cotton velvet.

Shape-wise, the pipe reflects a timeless bent Billiard, and Herbaugh coaxed a stunning array of flame grain around the bowl, dressing it all in a natural finish that gleams alongside the silver. As mentioned, Herbaugh held nothing back in the way of silver, but that doesn't just mean by volume; he also delivered a remarkable degree of complexity and intricacy. Old Barling pipes, and old English pipes in general, sometimes featured tulip-styled silver filigrees, involving scalloped points that resemble flower petals and elevate the silverwork even further. Dunhill will occasionally feature such a style on a modern pipe, but it's increasingly rare and never to the extent that Herbaugh has rendered here. The tulip style is revealed on every aspect of this piece, from the spigot mounts to the rim cap to even the wind cap itself — all hand-spun by Herbaugh from sheet silver and soldered, etched, and engraved by hand.

Of particular note are the wind cap and the shank extension, both elements seen in early Barling catalogs. Though many windcaps on old Barling pipes were affixed via a hinge along the rim cap, Herbaugh wanted a more versatile option, crafting a spring-loaded design that pressure fits to the rim via two push tabs along the side of the wind cap. This stainless steel spring mechanism is the only non-silver metal on this piece, ensuring a more durable and non-malleable construction. Everything else, though, is sterling silver. Likewise, Herbaugh modernized the shank extension while still honoring Barling's early years. For these antique pipes, such shank extensions were often crafted from albatross bone. Herbaugh opted for vulcanite — albatross bones are in short supply if you didn't know — yet he incorporated the subtlest of details: Instead of shaping the vulcanite to a perfect cylinder, he created the slightest irregularity and bend to it, perfectly emulated the shape of those antique albatross-bone extensions, which were naturally not completely cylindrical. It's the tiniest of touches but one that solidifies the piece in the era of its inspiration and bespeaks Herbaugh's incredible attention to accuracy and detail.

Lastly, not only did Herbaugh craft the pipe and all of its accoutrements; he also handmade the case in which it's all presented. Beginning with blocks of pine, he hand carved and chiseled the recesses necessary to house the pipe and its various elements. Then, he lined the interior with high-grade velvet — the yellow hue even matching that of antique box sets — and lined the exterior with goat leather of a deep navy tone. To top it all off, he crafted the hinges and the latch himself, too, etching the latter with his logo to match the pipe's stamp, which also features his superlative Crane grade. It's arguably his greatest work to date.