Ashton: Old Church Poker with Silver (XXX) Tobacco Pipe

William "Bill" Ashton Taylor began working for Dunhill in 1959 at 15 years old, manning one of the legendary English marque's lathes after a lengthy apprenticeship. During his time at the White Spot, Bill absorbed all the secrets of the craft he could from their experienced carvers, coming into his own as a carver and marking the start of a lengthy career. After feeling the need to start his own company, Bill founded Ashton pipes in 1983, going into business for himself and holding his work to extremely strict standards of quality that have earned the Ashton name an excellent reputation. William passed away in 2009, entrusting Ashton's production to Jimmy Craig, his protege, who has maintained the stringent standards of his predecessor, creating pieces with timeless appeal and classic charm. Ashton presents a classic English Poker in this rendition, complete with a stout, cylindrical bowl and a flattened base that allows this handsome, utilitarian piece to sit upright stably. It's dressed in the Old Church series' warm tanblast, showing off striking grain throughout the stummel, while a sterling silver army mount offers rich contrast and added functionality. It's topped by a jet-black vulcanite stem that lends the piece a classic aesthetic in concert with its crisp blast and silver mount.