Scott Thile: Sandblasted Bulldog (OP2) (477) Tobacco Pipe

An accomplished musician and a self-taught pipe maker, Scott Thile always impresses with his sleek, muscular designs. Thile says his approach to pipe making is inspired by the "The Danish neoclassics as interpreted by the North American greats," which makes sense when considering this Bulldog offering. It's a design that merges the brawny nature of the shape-chart standard with a more understated, precise sense of line, resulting in a composition that's streamlined yet nuanced in appearance. The bowl features the form's characteristic tapered rim and wrapping beadlines, but Thile has pitched the bowl forward, lending a touch of dynamism to a shape that's often quite static. The diamond shank tapers into the vulcanite mouthpiece, its firm, sharply defined lines providing a sense of structure to the overall design before swiftly diminishing, creating a shape that's geometrically precise without being overly rigid. It's all handsomely presented in an earthy sandblast that brings vivid definition to the briar and provides plenty of traction for the fingers.