Smooth Redwood Burl Nosewarmer Calabash with Boxwood (4518) Tobacco Pipe

Our theme for the 2018 American Carvers Expo was "alternative materials," pushing our participants to work outside of the usual briar. David Huber's submission does exactly that. Featuring a stummel carved from redwood burl — the root of the redwood tree, complete with its own unique grain patterns — a briar-lined chamber, and cap and shank end of pale boxwood, the result is quite fetching. The boxwood in particular catches the eye, really bringing out the Calabash style of the shape, while emphasizing its abbreviated, Nosewarmer-style length by bracketing the shape at either end. The shape itself suits Huber's style, as well, combining a compact size with a muscular shape, as well as his broad, cateye style of shank. A well-executed piece all around.