Bruno Nuttens: Handmade Smooth Billiard (AA) Tobacco Pipe

French artisan Bruno Nuttens boasts a delightfully varied portfolio that ranges from understated, serially-produced works of Anglo-French classicism to more expressive, often Danish-inspired pieces made entirely by hand. This Billiard is a timeless example of the iconic shape, boasting a streamlined combination of shank and stem that tapers consistently out of the transition, slenderizing the pair considerably and placing further emphasis on the bowl. The transition is wide, and the shank is round, and it's paired here to a stem of jet-black vulcanite, this duo holding aloft a pert, plump, and shapely bowl. Said bowl stands on a rounded heel and boasts a low-set waistline, its walls taking on a slowly arcing taper toward the subtly inflated rim, making for a comfortable feel in hand. Light, lean, and agile, this pipe isn't quite compact, coming in at just over five and a half inches long, but its sprightly construction makes it a great option for clenching. Dressed in a warm, smooth finish, the stummel showcases handsome grain throughout, its ruby-hued stain revealing fields of birdseye across the flanks of the bowl.