Askwith: Sandblasted Poker with Bamboo Tobacco Pipe

This Poker is one of Chris Askwith's more traditional and reserved pieces, compared to his oft-seen use of vibrant colors, morta, and eye-catching finishes (such as the Moon Rock). The shaping is quite classic, and while it incorporates bamboo — an accenting material that today is often associated with artisan pipe making — such a style actually hearkens back to WWII-era Dunhill, who began adding bamboo to pipes as a way to save on briar consumption during that tumultuous time. This Poker exudes the style of those pipes, affectionately referred to as "Whangees," a name used for bamboo-adorned canes and umbrellas of that era. Chris pays homage to that aesthetic here, and the English carver has maintained a light palette, pairing the bamboo with a tanblasted stummel. The bowl is a bit squat compared to the length of the shank-and-stem combination, and the heel is heavily canted to ensure sturdy sitting at a jaunty angle. An excellent, classically inspired rendition, it's fitted with one of Askwith's signature polyester stems, and the briar will darken with character as it patinates over the years.