Ropp: Honoré de Balzac Smooth (338) Tobacco Pipe

Ropp's "338" design is a squat, plump form that tows the line between Apple, Acorn, and Tomato. The slightly raised waistline and subtle forward cant combine for a comfortable in-hand feel, while the diminutive proportions and streamlined profile create a lightweight presence. It's a shape that fits in well to Ropp's historic roots, hearkening back to old-school French and English shaping.

Considered one of the founders of European realism, Honoré de Balzac was a French novelist and playwright whose work greatly influenced the likes of Charles Dickens, Gustave Flaubert, and Jack Kerouac. Ropp presents their Honoré de Balzac series, comprised of Churchwarden shapes, as an homage to the writer — quite the apt commemoration, as Churchwardens are considered popular reading pipes. Perfect for smoking while lounged in an armchair, the characteristically long stem ensures that attention remains on the pages before you, requiring little movement to smoke. It's a series marked by classic French shapes, rendered by a classic French marque in honor of a classic French literary figure, with this particular offering presented in a traditional, auburn stain and accented by the line's flashy nickel accent band.