Clark Layton Sandblasted Billiard (2021) (Unsmoked) Tobacco Pipe

Long fond of working with his hands, Clark Layton started his working life in home building, which taught him the importance of efficiency. He would carry lessons learned in the construction industry over to pipe making, and today cites fellow American artisans Mark Tinsky and Premal Chheda as vital sources of advice over the years.

This Billiard from Clark is a nice example of that efficiency he learned on construction sites, weighing in at just over one ounce with a substantial length of five and a half inches and a fine sandblast that well highlights the flame grain and birdseye of the bowl. The grey-white of the acrylic stem pairs well with the light stain of the stummel, and the pattern is mesmerizing. In all, Clark has turned in a fine piece of American craftsmanship that is classic in its shape and whimsical in its decoration.