Scott Thile: Sandblasted Lovat with Ivorite (481) Tobacco Pipe

Introduced to the world of pipes at the age of 16 when he bought his first one, Scott Thile's background is that of a piano tuner and musician, making his progression to pipe maker somewhat unexpected, save for his affinity for pipes themselves. Scott is also an experienced woodworker, however, as he also rebuilds pianos in addition to tuning them, meaning that he is well-versed in crafting minutia and has developed an eye for fine details, something that his time spent as an autodidact and instruction by Bruce Weaver and Todd Johnson have honed.

This Lovat from Thile is a shape that we've seen before, though not for a while, and is one that I quite enjoy, as it retains the extended shank which is iconic to the form, though imbues it with a taper from the transition that runs through to the stem base, keeping the aft side of this pipe quite svelte. The saddle stem here has been fitted with a broad band of Ivorite at its base, emulating the look of real ivory with its unique pattern and contrasting the black vulcanite of its surroundings quite nicely, giving the piece a dash of pale color that really makes the other hues stand out. The transition here is quite thick, making the shank's taper all the more welcome, and builds into the bowl's aft with a slight slope, leaving ample room to drape a thumb and creating a singular outline. A firm heel and flattened base lead into the fore wall, offering some supple rounding at a higher-set waistline than I'm used to seeing on Lovats, and create a matching taper there, working in concert with the aft side to keep the bowl somewhat sleeker, though it still rises proudly to almost two inches in height. A crisp, earthy sandblast dresses the briar here, revealing rippling growth rings through the shank and cascading down the bowl while the smooth rim showcases some freckles of birdseye.