English Estates: Invicta Smooth Apple (by Colin Fromm) (US 187) Tobacco Pipe

With roots that extend to the end of World War II, Invicta Briars was established in 1947 and ran as Medway Pipe Repair until 1974, when Colin Leeson became the proprietor and changed the name to its modern-day moniker. After 35 years running Invicta, Leeson handed control of the brand over to Peter Ellam, currently the brand's sole carver, before passing away in 2013. This Apple was actually carved by Colin Fromm, one of Invicta's original carvers when the workshop was founded, and who would later go on to head the production of Charatan pipes in 2002. The bowl here is plump and robust, with plenty of curvature and supple contours to appreciate in hand, and the walls rise to a softly inflated rim with an impressive thickness that does well to insulate the chamber. A wide transition out back pairs the bowl to a slim, slender shank and a streamlined saddle stem made from warm cumberland, placing further emphasis on the presence of the bowl. Dressed in a warm, vibrant, auburn-hued stain, the stummel showcases a wealth of handsome grain throughout its build, the stem's own warm tones keeping the palette cohesive.