Michael Butera Royal Classic Rhodesian (B) (7162) (88) Tobacco Pipe

Michael Butera took up the art of pipe making in the '70s, and he was a formative influence on many of today's well-known American artisans, including Larry Roush, Steve Weiner, and Michael Frey. His Houston-based workshop was unfortunately destroyed by extensive flooding in 2017, causing him to pause his pipe-making pursuits for quite some time, and even before that, his output was quite limited, making this estate Rhodesian an exciting find for collectors and admirers of his work.

This Rhodesian is a stately iteration of the classic shape, featuring a tall, muscular bowl paired to a low-set shank and a concise, demurely downturned stem. Handsome grain abounds throughout the stummel, emphasized by a rich brown stain and a satiny smooth finish. The stem's inlaid band of hardwood shares the same finish, making for a beautifully cohesive appearance throughout.