Askwith: Sandblasted Devil Anse with Horn Tobacco Pipe

Though the historical provenance of the Devil Anse is debatable, as there are no factual reports of the eponymous Hatfield clan patriarch ever smoking a pipe, Kevin Costner's portrayal of the (in)famous West Virginian in the History Channel drama Hatfields & McCoys popularized the pipe shape. Something of an abbreviated Belge, the Devil Anse provides a comfortable smoking posture, which this example by Askwith exemplifies, through its abridged length allows it to be comfortably clenched.

Chris Askwith is a man with a great appreciation for the English classics, and though this piece isn't exactly a shape-chart standard, the Devil Anse's Belge-like inspiration is drawn from the long-stemmed clay tavern pipes of old. Weighing less than an ounce, this pipe is certainly a light one, with a trim, low-lying shank that's here paired to a tapering length of stem made from genuine horn. The combination lends the aft a defined sleekness which places a good deal of emphasis on the presence of the bowl, working with the gently cheeked transition to enhance its visual weight and draw the eye to the fore. The walls of this bowl are wonderfully plump, making the most of its small footprint to offer a composition that's exceptionally comfortable in the hand, with a mid-set waistline and a slight taper to the rim. Its charming forward cant presents the bowl with a jaunty demeanor and a welcome dynamism, additionally showcasing the inky sandblast that dresses the stummel quite well, its presence on the bowl revealing rippling growth rings cascading down the circumference of the bowl at an angle that follows the bowl's forward cant.