English Estates: Askwith Sandblasted Billiard (2016) Tobacco Pipe

While Chris Askwith's portfolio contains many Billiard renditions, most of them are fitted with slender shanks and tapered stems, for a sleek, streamlined profile. This 2016 piece, then, is a bit of a departure from the English carver's "normal" shaping aesthetic, featuring a compact, muscular pipe of compact length. The tall, robust bowl certainly houses plenty of chamber depth, with the stout shank continuing that heartiness before being topped by one of Chris' signature, colorful polyesters stems, this one showcasing royal blue and yellow hues in saddle form for a rather regal disposition. The stummel is wearing a light-stained sandblast, showing off the briar's handsome grain patterns and contrasting the vivid colors of the mouthpiece.