Chris Asteriou: Sandblasted Pencil Shank Cutty with Silver Army Mount Tobacco Pipe

Chris Asteriou's stylistic range is undeniably impressive, as the Greek carver is able to seamlessly deliver artisan renditions of traditional shapes while also possessing the ability to craft more organically inspired designs. This Cutty offering, while falling within the more traditional end of Asteriou's shaping spectrum, hearkens more to vintage Anglo-French pipes in its proportions, color palette, and accent work. When rendered by Asteriou, the Cutty typically features a protruding heel spur similar to his signature Acorn and Strawberry shapes; however, here the form caters more toward the classic clay pipes of yesteryear, with the Cutty's distinctive "foot" being flattened at the bottom, rather than sharply pointed, and placed directly beneath the transition.

The Greek carver has finished this piece in a reserved, light-depth sandblast with undulating grain cascading down the flanks of the tall, strongly canted bowl. As with many of his other sandblasted pieces, Chris has carefully chamfered the innermost section of the rim and stained it a warm, ruby hue. The trim pencil shank gradually tapers toward the shank end, terminating in an elegant sterling silver army mount which bears Asteriou's initials along with a single accenting beadline. The expansion disc along the stem's base echoes the silver's crisp beadline, while the cumberland stem's red and black hues pair perfectly with the smooth, chamfered rim and the sandblasted stummel. And because of the army mount, the stem can be safely removed at any time, without having to worry about damaging the shank or mortise. It's a stunning piece from Chris, showcasing his ability to make a timeless, iconic shape all his own while elevating it to greater heights.