Sandblasted Nautilus with Abalone (2026) (with Extra Stem) Tobacco Pipe

Formerly known as the American Pipe Making Exposition, our annual Global Pipe Making Exposition features contributions from some of the world's foremost artisans, all united around a central theme. One of the most exciting events of the year for carvers, smokers, and enthusiasts of briar alike, the Global Exposition acts not only as a showcase for the immense talent of these artisans but as a focus for the boundless creativity that these masters of the art possess. For 2026, the theme of our Expo is "The Art of the Sandblast," celebrating the artistry and craftsmanship behind one of the most meticulous finishing techniques in pipe making. Through the sandblast, these artisans transform the natural grain of briar into textured works of art, highlighting the unique character of each block and demonstrating the artistry of the technique.

Jason Mouton has crafted a striking Nautilus for this year's expo, one possessed of a distinct breadth that makes the tightly-knit stummel a hearty and palm-filling companion. As with most other Nautilus interpretations, the shank is short and close to the bowl, though it eschews the tapering, curling "tail" that typifies the more Danish or Japanese-influenced examples. Rather, this pipe features a solid, rounded shank with a pair of flat panels on either side, the outer edges of the shank itself framed with a pair of crisp ridges that create a good deal of structure through the aft side of the stummel. The taper of this shank, too, is rather unique, starting its diminution at the top and pinching closer to the underside: granting the stummel a consistent, blooming look as the shank's shaping mimics that of the bowl. The panels on either side of the shank are also slightly offset from each other, and they comprise two different sizes as well, which lends the taper an additional facet of complexity, as the larger left side panel can be seen tapering to the right when this pipe is viewed from the bottom or from the smoker's perspective.

The bowl here is broad, and it flares out from a softly rising, gradual heel to create a wide rim that dips down at both the fore and aft side. This bowl conceals an appreciably deep chamber within its thick walls, providing ample insulation while smoking and promising leisurely sessions whose experience can be altered at will thanks to one of this pipe's added features. Mouton has crafted not one, but two stems to be used with this pipe, depending on how one wishes to smoke it: one an extended length of vulcanite that pushes the piece to almost Churchwarden proportions, and the other a much shorter piece that makes the pipe a more compact, travel-friendly package. Both stems feature neat expansion rings at the base that highlight negative space at the junction and match some of the shank's heartiness, and both display slim, graceful bits that keep much of one's attention locked onto the stummel. Most of the briar here is dressed in a crisp and inky sandblast that reveals dense stacks of ring grain flowing down the walls, while the rim and the right side shank panel are finished smooth, revealing swirls of birdseye and streaks of flame, respectively. Lastly, Mouton was not satisfied simply rendering a handsome shape in a lovely finish, and has thus accented the pipe with a large, circular accent of abalone on the shank's left panel, which introduces an incredible amount of arresting contrast to the pipe that ensures it will remain a standout piece in any collection.