Askwith: Blood Moon Rock Billiard Tobacco Pipe

Chris Askwith's Moon Rock finish is both one of his rarest and most unique presentations, and we've only received one other piece that showcases the finish. In general, the Moon Rock features a micro-sandblast — a sandblasting technique, seen also on the English carver's Weathered Bone pipes, that results in an ultra-fine texture that goes beyond the ring grain and dimpled birdseye of normal blasts. While the Weathered Bone finish stops only at the micro-sandblast, the Moon Rock adds to it dimpled "craters" of varying sizes across the surface. Such a texture clearly resembles the namesake of the series and presents a texture unlike any other pipe. Here, the individual finish adorns a classic Billiard of about Group 5 or 6 size. Such large dimensions make the most of the finish's texture, which Chris has stained a rich crimson, with lighter hues dispersed throughout for contrast. Paired to one of Askwith's signature polyester stems, the ink-and-red tones complete the aesthetic for a consistent color palette throughout.