Chris Asteriou: Sandblasted Dublin with Bamboo and Ivorite Tobacco Pipe

Drawing from his background as an architect and industrial designer, Chris Asteriou fashions a variety of attractive pipes that range from modernized shape-chart standards to more distinctive Freehand designs. Either way, his pipes always impress with their stylish finishes, unique accents, and refined shaping, all of which are on display with this stunning Dublin. Stocky and broad, the bowl builds from its conservative, pointed heel, which is almost Acorn-like in its definition, upward toward its flared, softly inflated rim. Out back, the shank ebbs from the low-set transition before surrendering to two knuckles of dark bamboo, the material adding a touch of organicism to the composition without offsetting the pipe's otherwise shadowy complexion.

A crisp, dark sandblast dresses the stummel and unveils tight stacks of growth rings across the flanks of the bowl that radiate upward to a rim covered in calcified birdseye. The circular grain structure emphasizes the bowl's upward expansion and rotund build, while at the same time providing a stimulating texture for the fingers to explore and enjoy. The bamboo shank extension is sandwiched between two bands of white Ivorite, which add a touch of color to the composition and really pop against the pipe's dark palette.