Clark Layton: Sandblasted Billiard Tobacco Pipe

This Billiard from Clark Layton strikes a classic profile of well-balanced proportions and sleek lines, with the pert, upright bowl sitting at the front of a slender shank-and-stem combination. The shank jets from the transition at the base of the bowl, before being outpaced by the long, hand-cut acrylic stem, each working to bolster the firm stature of the bowl. The soft roundness of the bowl, trim transition, and gracefully protracted design results in a lightweight presence that fits easily in hand, and will surely clench comfortably from the jaw. Clark Layton has a tendency to favor dense, craggy sandblasts, but he opted instead for a lightly textured blast on this pipe, maintaining the silhouette's clean lines. The honey-blonde finish greatly accentuates the fields of birdseye on the flanks of the bowl, boldly presented thanks in part to the conciseness of the sandblast. The rim is left smooth for a subtle note of contrast, while the acrylic stem displays glossy silver and metallic-gray hues that offset the more naturalistic finish of the stummel. Streamlined and poised, this piece will make an excellent addition to a collector's rotation, especially those with a keen eye for of its handcrafted charm.