Michael Butera Vintage Classic Amber Bent Billiard with Boxwood (B) (4053) (88) Tobacco Pipe

Michael Butera's limited production can make his pipes hard to track down, not in the least because they are so treasured by collectors. An American artisan of the highest order, Butera is widely seen as an influence on his fellow pipe makers, including Steve Weiner, Larry Roush, and Mike Frey.

This bent Billiard from Butera takes on a silhouette near that of an Oom Paul with its well upturned shank, bent saddle stem and tall, straight Billiard bowl. The bowl is particularly deep at just over two inches and quite muscular to boot, displaying some fine birdseye around the thick, flat rim. Butera's sandblasted finish offers a gentle touch to the hand and allows the flame grain underneath to be viewed easily. The shank is muscular as well, leading up into a black acrylic saddle stem inlaid with boxwood to give a handsome contrast with the rest of the stem behind it and the stummel in front of it. Taken together, it's a great offering from Butera, one of fine design, fine craftsmanship, and even better imagination.