Bill Shalosky: Sandblasted Belge (634) Tobacco Pipe

When asked about the pipes that inspired him, Bill Shalosky points to "every pipe ever made," which makes sense when viewing the diverse range of shapes within his portfolio. His work can range from classic shape-chart standards to highly stylized, Danish-inspired pieces, but whatever Shalosky ends up crafting, his love of pipe making, in all its many aspects, is on full display. His career includes time spent making pipes for Smoker's Haven as well as Chheda Pipes, and he's currently a part of BriarWorks' artisan team while also fashioning his own handmade pipes — such as this Belge.

The first of its kind we've seen from the American artisan, this Belge features a pert, forward-ebbing bowl that's paired to a sleek, arrow-straight shank-and-stem arrangement, a departure from Shalosky's oten more muscular shaping style. The bowl's implied momentum is accentuated by the shank and stem's static lines, resulting in a composition that's at once dynamic and sleek. The pert, Egg-like bowl boasts a gently protruding waistline that conforms naturally to the hand and draws attention to the slighter tauter rim, which is raised a bit higher at its fore than its aft. A crisp, auburn-hued sandblast dresses the stummel and draws out tight bands of growth rings across the bowl's flanks.