Peterson: Sherlock Holmes Supreme Silver Mounted Sandblasted Milverton P-Lip Tobacco Pipe

Released as part of the second seven-pipe addition to the Sherlock Holmes Collection between 1992 and 1997, the Milverton (referred to as the "XL24" in other series) is named after one of the most odious villains within Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's work: Charles Augustus Milverton, a.k.a. "The King of Black-Mailers." The antagonist appears in The Adventure of Charles Augustus Milverton, published in 1904, and was inspired by the real-life Charles Augustus Howell, an actual black-mailer who conned people as an art dealer. For Peterson's Milverton shape, the Irish marque presents their signature muscular aesthetic in bold bent Billiard form defined by a Bulldog-style, diamond shank to further the design's firmness and imposing disposition.

Peterson introduced the Sherlock Holmes series in 1987 with a one-off design commemorating the 100th anniversary of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's A Study in Scarlet. Two years later, the Irish marque decided to add a new shape every six months, forming what would eventually become the 18-pipe Sherlock Holmes collection. Each pipe in the collection also showcases Peterson's exemplary silverwork — the firm being renowned for its application of sterling silver, with the Sallynoggin factory's smiths having completed a years-long mentorship stewarded by Peterson's senior craftsmen. The Sherlock Holmes line boasts broad accent bands of the regal metal, etched with the collection's logo, complemented here by a virgin-finished sandblast for a natural aesthetic with just the right amount of texture.

When fashioning new pipes, Peterson separates stummels into various grades, differentiating between degrees of quality and grain orientation. For decades, the Supreme grade reigned, well, supreme, being the pinnacle of Peterson's production. However, throughout the '00s, the prestigious designation began to fall out of use. That all changed, though, in 2019 with Peterson resurrecting the superlative Supreme stamp, followed by the A+ and A grades, respectively. Out of 2,000 stummels, only one will be of Supreme quality and perfection, making the line truly the best, most exclusive offering from the Irish firm. Showcasing Peterson's updated, artisan-style sandblasting setup, this piece reveals a stunning array of sandblasted grain — the briar left unstained to allow for full, natural appreciation and promote a patina as it's smoked. Further commended by a band of sterling silver representing Peterson's esteemed metalwork, this piece joins the ranks of Peterson's best pipes, bar none.