Chris Asteriou: Smooth Dublin with Silver (110/19) Tobacco Pipe

Channeling classic Danish style and his own personal aesthetic, Chris Asteriou here presents a streamlined Dublin. As it regards general profile, it's reminiscent of a previous Dublin we received from the Greek carver; however, this one lacks the former's paneled disposition, instead prioritizing clean curves that accentuate the piece's sleek nature. The trim proportions, svelte bowl, and stretched profile hint at '60s-era Pipe-Dan and W.Ø. Larsen pieces, but Asteriou has included a silver accent that calls to mind vintage English and French pipes as well as his own signature design cues — the heel ever-so-subtly displaying a pointed spur. Typically, Chris showcases this feature on his iconic Strawberry design, but it works well in this composition, serving to accentuate the angle of the transition and forward-canted bowl, while also echoing the craggy texture of the plateau-crowned rim.

It's this combination of various traditions that makes this pipe ever-unique and testifies to Chris's ability to shift between styles and create an aesthetic all his own. What truly ties this piece together, though, is how Asteriou deftly tapers the shank and stem consistently from transition to button. Such a clean line echoes the bowl's taper and marries the two compositional elements together. The stummel is, then, dressed in one of the artisan's mahogany contrast stains, effectively highlighting strands of high-reaching flame grain, and Chris' expert handling of silver is well-displayed — showcased in the form of a broad band with elegant fluting at the end for added flourish.