Ardor: Urano Fantasy Rhodesian (S. Wilford) Tobacco Pipe

Over the years, the Roveras have produced a select few series in honor of certain members of the global pipe community. This particular Rhodesian, as you might have guessed, pays tribute to our own Sykes Wilford. They even let him design it, despite the fact that Sykes — like any true, hardened academic — is a complete danger to himself around hand tools of any kind. Fortunately, our resident pipe maker, Adam Davidson, was there to guide Sykes through the design process, ensuring the Roveras received a plan which would both capture what Sykes intended aesthetically, and still be doable while living up to Ardor's standards for engineering and smoking qualities (and also to ensure Sykes did not inadvertently skewer himself with a compass or become fatally entangled in a drafting board).

And so here it is: The S. Wilford Ardor Rhodesian, a sizable yet perfectly balanced number, deep-chambered, Italian in proportions, yet hinting at a bit of Danish influence in the simple beauty of its gracefully curving lines and single, cleanly-defined bead dividing upper and lower bowl. (Little surprise there — Sykes is a big fan of Danish pipe design, after all). Though each pipe receives an individual finish, all feature a boxwood mount, an extremely fine-grained, highly valued wood known for its exquisite and consistent smoothness.

This particular example presents a finish which mixes the rough and rugged with the smoothly refined, sporting Ardor's deep-textured, rustication-accentuated sandblast on the lower bowl and shank, and smooth, natural finish on the bowl's upper half. The look is light and lively, and contrasts well with the jet black stem, while a bright metal accent at the stem base adds even further refinement.