Askwith: Sandblasted Prince Tobacco Pipe

Known for his traditional shaping style and use of colorful stems, English artisan Chris Askwith offers a fresh and extroverted twist on timeless shape-chart standards. This Prince is an excellent introduction to his style, and it exemplifies Askwith's aesthetic approach as well as his quality craftsmanship. In silhouette, this piece reveals an archetypal Prince design; by outline alone, it could have been crafted over a century ago — the lines elegant and the bulbous bowl perfectly proportioned against the sleek shank and elongated stem. In the light, however, this pipe reveals a decidedly more modern flair: The stummel's crisp tanblast is complemented by a dazzling, hand-cut polyester stem that reveals swirling fiery tones intermingled with those of a darker, smokier hue. It makes for an eye-catching aesthetic overall and also individualizes the shape, juxtaposing classic, conventional design cues with a modern and unique palette.