Bill Shalosky: Smooth Horn with Boxwood (556) Tobacco Pipe

Having fashioned pieces for BriarWorks, Smoker's Haven, and Chheda Pipes, Bill Shalosky could be said to have some experience in the craft. When asked about the designs that influence him, Shalosky often points "every pipe ever made," which makes sense when considering the wide variety of shapes found in the artisan's portfolio. He crafts everything from traditional pipe-chart standards to more organic, Danish-inspired pieces, but no matter the form his work takes, his designs are always stylish, expertly engineered, and handsomely presented, all of which remains true for this Horn offering.

Possessing a forward-canted bowl, stretched transition, and flowing shank-and-stem arrangement, this piece is rife with forward-surging momentum. The entire shape seems to descend from the flared, Dublin-like rim, with a steady downward taper that begins at the bowl, carries across the sweeping heel, and glides through the curling shank-and-stem arrangement. The design is lightweight and absolutely delightful in hand, the transition offering ample space in which to drape a digit or two. It's all dressed in a smoky smooth finish that highlights cross grain across the flanks of the stummel and birdseye across the fore and underside of the bowl. An accent of boxwood adorns the shank end and provides a pop of color to the otherwise reserved complexion of the pipe for further visual stimulation.