American Estates: Lane Limited Coronation Smooth Zulu with 14K Gold Tobacco Pipe

While primarily known for its pipe tobacco, this pipe was produced by Lane Limited, which was founded in Dresden, Germany, in 1890. The brand was established in the United States in 1938, where it was headquartered in New York City and later Georgia, before being acquired by the Scandinavian Tobacco Group in Denmark in 2011. Lane made their own lines of pipes for years, and this Zulu is an excellent example of their work. The transition is wide, with ample space to drape a digit, and it pairs the bowl to a sleekly tapering shank and stem combination. This shank and stem slenderize the aft side of the pipe nicely, while a 14-karat band of gold marks the junction and adds an elegant bit of flair. Up front, the bowl stands on a rounded heel and cants forward dynamically, its walls taking on an easy flare to the flat rim while offering a gentle bit of rounding for comfort in the hand. Dressed in a warm, light stain, the stummel showcases handsome grain and is nicely complemented by the gold band, this pipe's fineness earning it the Coronation grade.

-John McElheny