Alex Florov: Smooth Mt. Fuji Tobacco Pipe

A creative force within the world of pipe making, Alex Florov crafts stunning designs from his workshop just outside of Chicago. While many artisan's portfolios are typical favor traditional designs punctuated by freehand shapes, Florov's œuvre prioritizes artistic and one-of-a-kind designs — each one singular and indicative of the Russian-American's boundless creativity and superlative craftsmanship. This Mt. Fuji example is one such piece.

A rendition of the Volcano shape, this piece references Japan's iconic peak in its name as an homage to Japanese pipe maker Hiroyuki Tokutomi. This particular Volcano design has been a signature of Tokutomi's for years, and it's defined by a squat, tapering bowl and a wide shank that curls into a distinct point. Not only does such a design cue beautifully highlight the briar's natural, vertical grain pattern, but it also adds an element of asymmetry — the pipe's profile from below resembling one half of the taijitu, yin and yang symbol.

Florov's rendition here stays true to Tokutomi's original form, with Florov adding additional ridgeline's for an added sense of crispness and structure that juxtaposes the rest of the composition's smooth curvature. A central ridge divides the stummel's upper and lower sections, separating the bowl's flame grain from the heel's birdseye, and a second ridge curls down from the rim and through the transition to form the shank's curled point. These ridges perfectly frame the beautiful grain on display, and the base of the cumblerand stem is neatly canted to align tastefully with the shank's dynamic trajectory.