Michael Butera Royal Classic Bent Billiard with Gold (LSB) (J0008) Tobacco Pipe

Michael Butera is considered by many to be one of the best carvers in America, and the founding father of American pipe making. This Billiard from Butera is a fine example of his stellar craftsmanship. Lifting up from a tight transition, the shank terminates at a height that brings it almost level with the upright bowl's rim. The bowl is rounder than that of your average Anglo-French Billiard, contributing continuity in inflection to a sweeping curve that underscores the totality of the pipe's shape, winding from the bowl's fore rim, across the shank, and through a gently tapered, smartly bent stem. The smooth stummel wears a dark auburn stain that shows off Butera's eye for attractive grain patterns. It's contrasted by a bright band of gold at the junction.