Smooth Elephant's Foot with Bakelite Tobacco Pipe

The Elephant's Foot shape was originally conceived by legendary Swedish carver Bo Nordh and has become a classic staple of Freehand artisan pipe making. It's also an incredibly difficult shape to create, as many elements have to line up perfectly. The initial struggle begins with selecting a briar block suitable for such a demanding shape, as the grain has to be practically flawless for the desired result to be achieved since grain orientation is paramount to execute the form well. Micah "Yeti" Cryder ably demonstrates his spectacular pipe-making skills with this Elephant's Foot rendition, crafting a beautifully shaped interpretation that leaves nothing to be desired.

Micah mentioned that he was originally drawn to the Elephant's Foot shape after seeing renditions crafted by Todd Johnson. In a way, this piece is a tribute to Todd's versions but remains easily recognizable as a Yeti pipe. The bowl itself remains conventional — marked by domed sections fore and aft separated by a crisp, tapering panel through the center. The American artisan has then paired the bowl to a gracefully arching shank-and-stem combination, with the lemon-and-cream tones of the antique Bakelite stem pairing exceptionally well with the lighter hues of the dramatic contrast stain Micah applied to the stummel. The stain makes the grain even more visually striking, with streaks of cross grain riding along the bowl's central panel while birdseye completely saturates the near and far sides. The photos and video wonderfully showcase how stunning this piece is, but to see it in person is truly breathtaking.