Sandblasted Morta Rhodesian (2025) Tobacco Pipe

English artisan Chris Askwith began his pipe journey in 2006, when he first started smoking a pipe and realized that the tools he used as a silversmith could be used to repair pipes. In 2007, he was afforded the chance to make some of his own pipes from scratch, utilizing borrowed equipment from a fellow carver and enthusiast. Askwith eventually invested in specialized tooling that allowed him to produce original pipes full-time, and since then, he's become a prominent figure in artisan pipe making. This Rhodesian showcases Askwith's unique style, which consists of modernizing Anglo-French classics through colorful stem materials and alternative mediums.

Askwith demonstrates his eclectic shaping style with this Rhodesian — a compact take on the form fashioned from morta. Morta, a petrified bog oak, is a material Askwith employs nearly as often as briar, and it's prized for its dark hues and mesmerizing grain. Here, the wood's character is enhanced by a light-depth sandblast, providing texture to the stummel's surface. The piece is completed with one of Askwith's striking mouthpieces: a stunning blend of black and purple polyester. The stem's hues stand out starkly against the rest of the composition's shadowy palette, alongside the bright metallic accent along the shank end.