Irish Estates: Peterson Churchwarden Ebony Dublin (Fishtail) Tobacco Pipe

The "120" is Peterson's standard Dublin shape, marked by an upright, conservatively flaring bowl fitted to a robust shank and transition, per the Irish marque's signature shaping style. This rendition here, however, opts for a more graceful, slender form — the shank-and-stem arrangement is trim and languidly bent, its subtle curvature supporting a sturdy bowl. It's a noticeable departure from Peterson's typical design cues and makes for quite the svelte and elegant profile.

Peterson first introduced Churchwarden pipes in 1945, the long, willowy profiles inherently forgoing the muscular aesthetic that has come to define the Irish marque's approach to pipe design. Such length is much more suited to extended, relaxing smoking sessions, however, the stem allowing for minimal movement while smoking in an armchair. It's for this reason that Churchwardens are often preferred while reading, the Germans going so far as to translate "Churchwarden" as Lesepfeife, which literally means "reading pipe." Slender and lightweight, Peterson's Churchwardens may not be convenient pocket pipes, but they more than make up for it in the comfortable smoking posture they promote. This particular one wears a formal, ebony stain, accented with the Irish marque's esteemed metalwork for an elegant dress pipe motif, not unlike that of Peterson's Cara series.