Smooth Apple (2026) Tobacco Pipe

Chris Askwith is an artisan pipe maker from England. He is known for his adherence to classic, Anglo-French shaping cues and modern finishing work, his portfolio filled with precisely rendered pipes with balanced proportions. Normally, when I think of Askwith's work, I think of designs more classic in proportions and design. This is the most muscularly rendered pipe that I, personally, have seen from him. It reminds me more of the American style of pipe making with its robust bowl and equally buff shank. He's done a great job here of keeping things balanced, even with the changed proportions. This was achieved with an obtusely angled transition and a shank-and-stem arrangement with a steady, drawn out taper into the button that lets the attention gradually ebb away from the bowl. This pipe is, additionally, a compact design, only a little over five inches long and with a shallow chamber that makes it a good fit for a quick smoke break. Despite this compactness in length and chamber depth, the plump bowl offers plenty of space to wrap the fingers around for a cozy conformity to the palm. To top it all off, the stummel shows some excellent grain with a smooth, auburn-hued finish that is complemented by the ivory-hued acrylic stem. Even with its departure from Askwith's usual style, it is still colored and balanced like a typical Askwith pipe, making it an interesting and unique addition to the collection of any of his fans.