Ashton: Brindle Bent Billiard with Silver (LX) 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. The "LX" and "ELX" gradings are Ashton's two largest size designations, respectively, with this "LX" bent Billiard boasting nearly seven inches in length. A tall and robust take on the chart standard shape, this pipe offers a hearty, yet sleek profile thanks to its large bowl and sleekly tapering shank and stem configuration. It is set up well for comfortable jaw hanging, and it offers plenty of stimulation in hand thanks to the English marque's crisp Brindle sandblast. As part of the Brindle line, this pipe boasts one of the brand's signature brindled stems, with said stem being rendered from cumberland. A gleaming silver band at the shank end offers even further delight and handsome contrast against the stummel's earthy stain.