American Estates: Scottie Piersel Smooth Pencil Shank Tomato (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

Part of what makes Scottie Piersel pipes so charming is the stark dichotomy of proportions and yet delicate balance often presented between bowl and shank, as seen here. The American artisan takes pride in crafting pipes with superb function, comfort, and engineering. Equally adept at creating stylish, muscular designs or ultra-sleek renditions, she here presents a Tomato that's a pleasing culmination of both.

Easily recognized as Scottie's work, this piece features the Tomato bowl's low-slung stature amid considerable breadth, along with a dynamic forward cant and a deeply beveled rim. A sure Sitter despite its somewhat rounded underside, the bowl of this pipe is affixed to one of the artisan's signature pencil-thin shanks, which initially seems fragile but is certainly not: Scottie having reinforced it with stainless steel for longevity and durability. The rim is wide, overlooking a capacious chamber, and slopes into this chamber for a tobacco-loading experience that's as easy as possible. Dressing this piece is one of Piersel's remarkably uncommon smooth finishes, covering the briar in a rich, ruby-tinged stain and slightly matte top coat, revealing handsome grain throughout.