Michael Butera Textured Classic Bent Apple (A) (1987) Tobacco Pipe

Crafting pipes since the 1970s, Michael Butera has trained many of today's well-known American artisans, including Larry Roush, Steve Weiner, and Michael Frey. As he produces a limited number of pipes, estate offerings from Butera, like this Apple, are a rare treat for pipe collectors.

While this piece embodies a traditional appeal, it sets itself apart from classic profiles with its extra slender shank-and-stem combination. The bowl has an almost spherical shape, showcasing a wealth of texture thanks to the craggy rusticated finish. The low-set shank further highlights the bowl's round form, and the slender proportions flow seamlessly into the softly downturned acrylic stem.