Michael Parks: Sandblasted Bulldog with Horn (IV.HO.17) Tobacco Pipe

Michael Parks simply excels at modern renditions of classical English and French shapes. Here, for example, he's taken the stout, muscular form of the Bulldog — with its signature diamond shank and pronounced beadlines — and beefed up the proportions even more, all while keeping the length modest and compact. The result is, indeed, quite robust, accentuating the design's inherent stoutness and providing a substantial, firm feel in hand. On top of that, he's lent the stummel one of his extra craggy, old-school, Shell Briar-like sandblasts, bringing out an impressive array of texture and rippling grain all around, as well as a dark, near-jet black stain to keep the shape in focus. For accents, Michael's gone for something more pastoral, complementing the dark shade of the briar with an even darker horn accent and a mouthpiece of rust-and-onyx-colored brindled vulcanite.