English Estates: James Upshall Empire Series Tradition Dublin (B) Tobacco Pipe

The James Upshall workshop is known for its often robust renditions of Anglo-French shape chart standards. This Dublin, however, is far from traditionally inclined, with a silhouette closer to a Freehand than a classic Dublin. The shank and stem take on a thick presence and push out of a wide transition, with the shank's trim length made up for by the lengthy bit of the saddle stem. Up front, things become interesting, as the bowl rests inside of a paneled flare from the flat heel that is flattened as well at the corners. From the middle, a secondary flare takes hold, followed by another, creating a stepped look reminiscent of a Ziggurat, if Ziggurats expanded at the top and opened into a vast tobacco chamber. The wealth of substance on display here is incredible, and the stummel itself is dressed in a warm, honeyed stain which unveils some dense flame grain through the flanks, while the bowl's rim is crowned with plateau for textural contrast.