Michael Parks: Sandblasted Billiard with Horn (2 Leaf) Tobacco Pipe

Canadian artisan Michael Parks holds a deep respect for the pipe-making traditions of old, with classic, timeless profiles well-represented in his work. His fastidious adherence to perfection is the result of nearly two decades of carving, though his passion for pipes and fine tobacco stretches back to his time in art school, and it is this perfectionist outlook that has made his work renowned in the pipe world. Each of his pipes are imbued with his own artistic approach to the individual shape, with this Billiard being an excellent example of that.

A light, handsomely stylized Billiard rendition, this piece from Michael Parks features a sleek build, with careful attention paid to the clean lines which flow through the profile as a whole. The stem here is a thin, flattened saddle of dark, marbled vulcanite whose base flares out to a firm expansion ring, tapering, then, to meet the softly domed face of a horn extension. This extension of the shank expands gently as it reaches toward the stem, its widest point marked by a soft ridgeline that creates a central bit of negative space between it and the stem. The shank proper is extremely trim, tapering out of a wide transition to meet a band of vulcanite whose hues match the stem and marry the briar to the horn, all while unifying parts of the aft end. Up front, the bowl sits atop a rounded heel and features walls that slowly taper to the rim, the curves of the bowl offering a comfortable feel in hand while holding a capacious chamber within. A crisp, craggy sandblast dresses the stummel in a deep auburn-chestnut hue, revealing rippling ring grain cascading down the bowl, with the multicolored vulcanite and vibrant white horn offering a wealth of contrast.