Smooth Egg with Ivory Tobacco Pipe

Russian-American carver Alex Florov often points to Lars and Nanna Ivarsson as sources of inspiration, particularly citing their tear drop shank and its sheer impact on the shape of pipes today. The spirit of that family is very much in evidence in this pipe, but the compositional impact of this pipe is very much "Florov". A painfully pretty interior line, best seen from the bottom, is protected (and augmented) by a ridge that has its genesis in the tear drop mount. That ridge runs to the very crest on the rim, and draws the eye along a trail of gorgeous cross cut grain. Florov boldness shines through in a slightly more acute angle between the bowl and shank, as well in the sheer length and thickness of the shank itself. This pipe could have ended no other way than with that perfect, short-throw saddle bit.

--Bear Graves