Peterson Aran Smooth Nickel Mounted (268) (Fishtail) Tobacco Pipe

Though it's not a shape you readily see everyday, Peterson does a fine job of pulling off a lovely Zulu interpretation with their "268" offering. With its subtle bend, forward canted Dublin bowl, and gentle transition, the classic form exudes grace and poise. It's an under-represented shape chart standard that — while traditionally seen from English, French, and Irish marques — seems to have an inherent Danish influence, due, in part, to the lack of hard lines, substituted for a languid bend and easy-curling transition.

One of Peterson's most traditional finishes, the Aran presents a color palette of chocolatey stain and jet-black stem. In the smooth iteration, it highlights the briar's natural grain pattern with handsome reservation — not distracting from the form's shape yet, at the same time, offering enough definition and detail to remain intriguing and individual, accented here with a flashy nickel band to add some formal panache and elegant appeal.