Misc. Estates: Andreas Bennwik Smooth Billiard Tobacco Pipe

Reserved and minimalist in its design, expected from the likes of Swedish artisan Andreas Bennwik, the poised, slender bowl cants forward at the front of this Billiard, its gestural stature is bolstered by the sleek lines of the low-slung shank-and-stem combination. Well-balanced in terms of proportions, this piece maintains a light weight that fits naturally in hand, with the black vulcanite stem ensuring that the piece will clench comfortably in the teeth. The pipe's momentum captures the eye, drawing most of the attention to the soft, supple features of the bowl, its waistline slightly pronounced over its firm heel. The piece wears a dark chestnut stain that casts the birdseye on the flanks of the bowl in a smoky haze that deepens their lush visual texture, as bands of cross grain travel across the fore and aft.