Ropp: Mid-Century Sandblasted (M415) Tobacco Pipe

This "M415" bent Billiard from Ropp is a resolute Sitter due to its flattened underside, which gives this pipe a tilted posture that drives the composition's forward-urging momentum. A trim bowl rises out of the flat heel, with the walls gently bulging outward before tapering to a trim rim, offering a supple in-hand feel. Out back, the well-bent shank emerges from a broad transition before gently tapering to the stem base, imbuing this graceful piece with proportional balance. A vulcanite saddle stem completes the slim silhouette and offers a comfortable form ideal for lengthy, jaw-hanging smokes.

Ropp's Mid-Century series embodies the intersection between the French and Scandinavian pipe making traditions. After WWII, Scandinavian pipe production skyrocketed, infusing the craft with minimalist designs and functional aesthetics. The burgeoning Scandinavian workshops turned to France, the progenitor of pipe tradition, to supply them with the tools and knowledge necessary for escalating the modern pipe making movement. The Mid-Century series is comprised of old-stock stummels originally shaped during that exciting time, which were recently finished at the historic Chapius-Comoy factory. Furthermore, the shapes showcase iconic Scandinavian design cues like sweeping, gestural profiles and towering bowls. Additionally, every Mid-Century pipe wears one of Ropp's signature finishes, either a chocolatey sandblast or smooth auburn stain, with this piece being dressed handsomely in the former.