Sandblasted Volcano (4823) Tobacco Pipe

David Huber made his first pipe in 2010, and by 2014 he was a full-time pipe maker. Studying under pipe making legends like Jeff Gracik, Tom Eltang, Former, and Nanna Ivarsson helped Huber improve his impressive self-taught skills. Huber mainly crafts curvaceous, gestural Freehand-like designs while peppering in traditional shapes on occasion, and his work represents the utmost in finishing quality, grain presentation, and expert craftsmanship.

We have seen a handful of Volcanoes from David Huber in the past, but none standout substance and shaping quite like this one. The entire composition has a forward-urging flow, as the bowl possesses a concave curvature that arcs inward from the underside ridge to the trim rim, while the shank arches in the opposite direction but still sweeps toward the fore. Furthermore, the grain follows suit, as every tendril of sandblasted flame grain curves towards the fore. Additionally, the undulating growth rings, which run perpendicular to the flame grain, stand out in relief, providing a rugged texture that is dressed a gorgeous stain of dark-mahogany and bright-auburn hues.

Moreover, the underside possesses an even craggier texture than the sandblasted stummel, showcasing an incredible swath of plateau that stretches along the unbroken, 90-degree curve. In a palpable contrast, the chamfered rim and outcropping on the shank are dressed in a smooth finish, completing the textural evolution from the bottom to the top of the stummel. The imaginative and organic stummel is paired to a stem made from jet-black vulcanite, which provides a familiar, comfortable clench. Furthermore the stem and stummel join at an exposed brass insert, which possesses a subtle undulation in parallel with the shape of the shank face. In turn, the stem base presents a congruent curvature to the brass insert and shank face, a superb detail that shows that Huber cares about every element of his pipes, even the most subtle.