Ashton: Achievement Paneled Billiard (ELX) Tobacco Pipe

Headed by Jimmy Craig, English workshop Ashton primarily crafts pipes of a timeless, classical style, often elevated by stems of signature brindled vulcanite and fitments of elegant silver. Though their work is known primarily for balanced works of timeless Anglo-French design, Ashton has also been known to, at times, produce some especially hearty and impressively sized pipes, pipes that can break the mold and encroach into the neoclassical realm of design. Of the designations for these pipes, the "ELX" stamping designates the largest regular-production pipes that Ashton makes, trumped only by the seldom-seen "Magnum" stamp. This paneled Billiard is a great example of Ashton's heartier work, wearing its "ELX" stamping with pride and presenting with nearly seven inches in length. The shank here pushes out from a wide transition and is surrounded by a quartet of panels, creating a consistent square shape that pushes out to meet a sleekly tapering stem of black vulcanite. The geometrical shank balances some of the visual weight taken up by the bowl, though the majority of this visual emphasis is still centered on the bowl. Standing atop a flattened heel that allows this pipe to sit sturdily, the bowl is surrounded by eight firm panels, its remarkably thick walls insulating a capacious chamber and offering an impressively robust feel in hand. Dressed in a crisp sandblast and deep, earthy stain, the stummel here showcases handsome grain, the shaping having earned this pipe the Achievement designation: a rare stamping reserved specifically for pipes with unique accents, shaping details, finishes, or some combination of the three.