Bill Shalosky: Sandblasted Rhodesian (629) Tobacco Pipe

Bill Shalosky possesses a wide variety of influences, pointing to "every pipe ever made" as a source of inspiration. Whether influenced by handmade, artisanal pipes or factory-produced ones, the American carver can usually find something unique or distinctive to utilize in his own work. Shalosky has a deft understanding of shaping, as well as the internal functionality of pipes, and he has quite the breadth of experience under his belt to attest to that fact, having fashioned pipes for Smoker's Haven, Chheda Pipes, and BriarWorks alongside his own artisan fare. His work can be rather eye-catching, as the American carver is not one to shy away from atypical materials or a sense of playfulness with his shaping.

With all that being said, this Rhodesian is one of Shalosky's more conservative designs, presenting with a more reserved and streamlined build than many of the American crver's pipes. This piece features a pert, upright bowl that stands at the fore of a slender shank-and-stem arrangement. The shank and stem's understated, minimalist lines keep the shape looking rather sleek in profile and foster a lightweight in-hand presence. The bowl boasts the form's typical features, including a flared heel, a wrapping beadline, and a tapered rim. It's all dressed in a ruby-hued sandblast that draws out rippling growth rings intersected by find tendrils of flame grain.