Smooth Billiard with Silver Tobacco Pipe

This classic, sleek Billiard from Chris Asteriou wonderfully captures the Greek artisan's appreciation for traditional shape-chart standards, especially those influenced by English pipe design. The elongated shank-and-stem combination lends even more elegance to the profile, with the bowl slightly canted forward for just the right amount of visual balance. It's a refined, lightweight rendition, with the warm, mahogany stain furthering this piece's classic appeal and adding definition to the streaks of cross grain and stunning birdseye surrounding the flanks of the poised bowl. A broad, sterling silver band adorns the shank end, accented by a trim beadline and engraved with the artisan's initials along the left side. Asteriou's silverwork is some of the best in modern artisan pipe making and this composition upholds that notion. Following the precious metal is a gracefully tapering stem, which offers a comfortable lip button and a meticulously shaped slot. It's a beautiful piece and leaves little wonder why Chris dubbed this his favorite Billiard that he has made thus far.