English Estates: Commonweal Sandblasted Dublin (P2S) (AG) (2022) Tobacco Pipe

Commonweal pipes are a collaborative effort between Les Wood, the now-retired proprietor of Ferndown pipes, and Canadian artisan Michael Parks, with stem work done by either Nate Rose or Charles Lemon. The result is a line of pipes with both exceptional construction and smoking properties, unified by crisp, grain-defining sandblasts across a variety of shapes. This Dublin is a good example of this style, one that showcases an impressive substance through the stummel, with the bowl assuming the majority of this piece's visual weight. Said bowl stands on a firm heel, supporting its walls as they flare gently toward the flat rim and create an impressively robust feel in hand, all while insulating a capacious chamber. The transition is wide, with plenty of room to drape a digit, and it gives way to a cylindrical shank, which extends toward a slender cumberland stem that further focuses the visual weight on the bowl. Dressed in a Cumberland-style sandblast, the stummel is rich with texture and showcases handsome grain beneath its earthy stain.