Ashton: Brindle 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. One would be hard pressed to find a Poker profile that didn't emanate a sheer muscular ruggedness, as there is simply something about the shape that defies being tamed by embellishment or filigree. This example from Ashton is emblematic of that defiance, with its bowl rising cylindrically above the arrow-straight shank: the stem's lengthy diminution contrasting the comparatively squat bowl and providing emphasis to the profile. The rustic Brindle sandblast enhances the ruggedness of the piece, providing a pleasing texture and revealing plenty of handsome grain throughout the stummel while a band of silver at the junction offering rich contrast.