Askwith: Sandblasted Morta Saucer with Boxwood Stem Tobacco Pipe

When Chris Askwith started smoking a pipe in 2006, he needed to restore the estate pipes he purchased. A talented silversmith, Askwith discovered that many of his tools and skills lent themselves well to pipes. So, in 2007, Askwith pipes was born. An English artisan, Askwith draws inspiration from the Anglo-French shape charts, but incorporates modern twists, most notably his detailed finishes and colorful stems.

This Saucer by Chris Askwith beautifully encapsulates his simultaneously creative and traditional style. The Saucer itself is an unorthodox shape, but one Askwith crafts with some degree of regularity. Comprised of a squat, palm-filling bowl, the sharply contoured walls are marked by a broad, crisp ridgeline, while, out back, the shank-and-stem arrangement is arrow-straight and sleek. Despite the bowl's exaggerated proportions, the profile is superbly streamlined and balanced in a classically Anglo-French manner. Moreover, the stummel is crafted from morta, an alternative material to briar that possesses a remarkable, geometric grain pattern, highlighted here by a palpably detailed sandblast. Additionally, the yellow-colored stem is also made from an unusual material, polyester, which few artisans outside of Askwith utilize. Overall, this Saucer is an excellent intersection of traditional sensibilities and modern flair.