Bill Shalosky: Smooth Bent Apple with Cocobolo (714) Tobacco Pipe

Bill Shalosky's formal education saw him earn a Bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from the Columbus College of Art and Design, his background in bowl turning and dabbling in clay pipe making seeing him doing repairs at the Smokers' Haven shop. Before long he had moved on to crafting their handmade series of pipes, and afterward began crafting his own line of handmade pieces, becoming one of the foremost artisans in the United States. Shalosky takes inspiration from pipe-making schools the world over, with this particular bent Apple rendition clearly displaying the style of the American school.

Instantly reminiscent of the Author, this bent Apple showcases a tightly-knit composition that affords it the look of a compact pipe, belying its length and obfuscating the hearty weight that it maintains. Unabashedly full-bodied at nearly a fifth of a pound, this pipe boasts an impressive thickness throughout its construction, its wide transition giving way to a hearty, lifted shank. The shank pairs to a round-based saddle stem of black vulcanite at a junction marked by a band of cocobolo, the plump accent ring and the rounded stem base continuing the stummel's soft, contoured look through the aft side pairing. Up front, the bowl stands on a sweeping heel and grows plump, rotund walls that thickly insulate the chamber while offering a delightfully comfortable feel in hand thanks to its rich curvature, these curves interrupted only by a craggy field of plateau on the right flank. Dressed in a warm, rich stain, the stummel showcases handsome grain throughout, with birdseye present on both sides of the bowl, while the midsection displays dense cross grain.