Old Church Poker with Silver (XX) (2026) Tobacco Pipe

At 15, William (Bill) Ashton-Taylor began his pipe-making career by signing under Alfred Dunhill. Starting as an intern and affiliated 'tea boy,' Bill retained a keen interest in pipe making. Eventually, this sparked the attention of Harry Saigrott, who began showing Bill the artistry of pipe making. By 1980, Bill founded Ashton Company, setting a high standard for craftsmanship and the quality of materials used. Bill passed away in 2009, but pipe maker Jimmy Craig proudly carries on the Ashton name.

The Poker is utilitarian design, supposedly deriving its name from the poker players who favored the shape's sitting capabilities. This example from Ashton's Jimmy Craig is true to the functionality of the classic shape without sacrificing smart aesthetics. The tall bowl features a generous chamber and thick walls perched on a flat heel. A defined transition leads to a slim round shank accented with a silver band at its junction to a tapered vulcanite stem, adding a dose of flash to the otherwise tan palette. The stummel is dressed in Ashton's Old Church finish, a tan sandblast that reveals a wealth of texture in warm tones to delight the eye as well as the hand.