American Estates: Larry Roush Sandblasted Pot with Silver (L1) (1324) (2007) Tobacco Pipe

Somewhere in between its namesake and a Poker, this Pot from American artisan Larry Roush showcases the hearty, muscular shaping style for which he has become highly regarded. This is immediately apparent at first glance, as every element of its construction speaks to a palpable thickness, and this is especially prevalent at the bowl. Said bowl is quite squat, coming in at under an inch and a half in height, though it possesses a striking breadth which allows it too easily fill out the contours of the hand with the gentle curves that comprise its walls. This bowl sits sturdily atop a flattened, forward slanting heel that cants the entirety of the pipe slightly rearward, reinforcing the muscularity of the bowl by pushing up its fore and imbuing the pipe with a sense of bravado. A wide transition allows for easy thumb draping and sees the start of the shank's short travel, taking on a consistent taper in line with that of the stem, though both remain quite thick and extend the length of the pipe to a compact five inches. The junction is marked by a trim, rope-patterned ring of silver that Roush has crafted and engraved himself, matching the silver inlay of the stem which is his personal logo. These two fitments offer rich contrast against the strikingly craggy jet-black sandblast dressing the stummel, itself revealing both textural flame and rippling ring grain around the surfaces of the bowl.