Michael Parks: Sandblasted Bent Billiard (One Leaf) Tobacco Pipe

Canadian carver Michael Parks modernizes and elevates classic pipe-chart standards through his intricate shaping style, masterful sandblasted finishes, and keen eye for artistic flourishes. Not one to simply rely on the sheer aesthetics, Parks' pipes are also superbly engineered, designed to be refined smoking instruments that are as beautiful inside as they are on the outside.

This bent Billiard is easily recognizable as the Canadian artisan's work: the deep, penetrating sandblast and absolutely stunning ring grain around the circumference of the bowl being a dead give away. Dressed in a deep, dark, chestnut stain, the stummel takes on a bold, craggy texture that's a sensory delight for the fingers as well as the eyes. The shadowy complexion of the stummel continues along the the shank, with the gentle arc of the vulcanite mouthpiece introducing a wealth of contrast, presenting brindled hues of pale green and black.

Shape-wise, this piece is fairly traditional, pairing a tall, classically oriented bowl to a sleek, curling shank and a lengthy tapered stem. The bowl possesses a touch of extra heft at the heel, lending the overall design a sense of muscularity and a full-bodied presence in hand. The sweeping heel and tight-knit transition keep the pipe fluid and streamlined, the shank angling upwards and carrying momentum into the tapered stem's arc. The thick insulating walls house a good bit of chamber capacity, which should ensure plenty of long, relaxing smoking sessions. The profile here is quite similar to Dunhill's iconic "LC" shape, with a stunning swan-neck arrangement of shank and stem that's poised well for easy jaw hanging. This is a bold design that's sure to be a welcome addition to any collector's rotation, and a favorite at that.